Columbus’ first ‘floating trash trap’

Cooper Creek in Columbus will be the site of the city’s first floating trash trap, a novel invention that both collects floating trash and hosts native river plants at the same time. Installed by nonprofit Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the floating triangle module comes from Australian-based Atlan Stormwater. This is the first of their products to be installed in the U.S., but the company has years of testing and development back home, with studies showing the benefits of how native plant roots positively affect water quality. Students from Columbus State University will help monitor and operate the trap, removing trash weekly. If all goes well more floating traps are expected to be installed in coming months, further cleaning up Columbus’ treasured streams and rivers.