Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Two Canadian not-for-profit organizations are joining forces to tackle plastic pollution in the Great Lakes.
Circular Materials, a national producer responsibility organization, has partnered with Pollution Probe to support the 2026 season of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup (GLPC), a signature initiative aimed at removing plastic and other debris from the lakes and surrounding waterways.
The program, led by Pollution Probe and the Council of the Great Lakes Region, employs innovative technologies including the Seabin, PixieDrone, and BeBot to capture plastic in waterways and along shorelines. Since its launch, the cleanup has filtered billions of litres of water and removed hundreds of thousands of pieces of plastic, while engaging in communities in pollution prevention efforts.
“Collaborating with Circular Materials in Ontario on cleanup events in 2026 will help to further expand these efforts, engaging even more communities as part of our common goal of ending plastic pollution in the Great Lakes,” said Melissa DeYoung, CEO of Pollution Probe.
The partnership will see both organizations host a series of cleanup events starting in spring 2026. Volunteers will collect, sort and characterize plastic debris, providing data to inform targeted solutions for reducing waste in Canadian waterways.
“By engaging our team and our communities directly in the effort to protect one of Canada’s most vital natural resources, we’re taking real action to advance a circular economy,” said Allen Langdon, CEO of Circular Materials. “This partnership underscores our commitment to supporting local solutions that keep our lakes, rivers, and neighbourhoods healthy for generations to come.”
The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup represents a collaborative approach to environmental protection, combining community engagement, science-based strategies and advanced plastic capture technologies to reduce pollution and improve water quality across the Great Lakes region.
Featured image: Pollution Probe
