Visit Kia Global Newsroom for more Kia contentKia’s Global Partner, The Ocean Cleanup Expands Plastic Interception Project Ahead of LA28Los Angeles is part of The Ocean Cleanup’s 30 Cities Program, aiming to cut global river plastic by one-thirdGlobal par

Visit Kia Global Newsroom for more Kia contentKia’s Global Partner, The Ocean Cleanup Expands Plastic Interception Project Ahead of LA28Los Angeles is part of The Ocean Cleanup’s 30 Cities Program, aiming to cut global river plastic by one-thirdGlobal partner Kia supports expanding operations to protect coastal ecosystems and biodiversityAgreements signed with city and county leaders to intercept plastic in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel RiversInitiative aims to prevent 380 570 tonnes of plastic from entering the Pacific annuallyDubai, United Arab Emirates, May 21, 2026: Kia Corporation and its global mission partner The Ocean Cleanup, the non-profit organization dedicated to ridding the world’s oceans of plastic pollution, have announced plans to expand operations in Greater Los Angeles to intercept plastic waste flowing from rivers into the Pacific Ocean.The project is scheduled for completion ahead of the LA28 Olympic Games and has secured backing from Los Angeles County officials, the City of Long Beach, and the City of Seal Beach.Local Rivers Pose Significant ChallengeResearch by The Ocean Cleanup reveals that Los Angeles rivers emit between 380 and 570 tonnes of plastic annually into the ocean. Globally, just 1,000 of the world's three million rivers are responsible for nearly 80% of all ocean plastic emissions.To develop tailored solutions for Los Angeles, The Ocean Cleanup conducted a comprehensive "Smart Rivers Survey" using drones, AI-enhanced remote-sensing cameras, and GPS drifters to map pollution patterns and inform deployment strategy.Proven Technology Expands Across the RegionThe new deployments will complement Interceptor 007, already operational in Ballona Creek, which entered its permanent operating phase in 2024 following unanimous approval by the LA County Board of Supervisors. To date, Interceptor 007 has prevented 386,945 pounds of trash from reaching the Pacific Ocean and local beaches.Both new river deployments are supported by independent feasibility studies commissioned by the City of Long Beach and the City of Seal Beach, which assessed hydraulics, trash volumes, technology options, and permitting pathways. Together, the three Interceptor installations will create a coordinated, city-wide ocean protection system across Los Angeles' three major waterways. Corporate Partnership Drives Real-World SolutionsKia has been The Ocean Cleanup's global mission partner since 2022, supporting the development and deployment of proven, scalable solutions to reduce marine plastic pollution, while creating a circular value chain for recovered legacy ocean plastic waste."Kia believes the future of mobility comes with a responsibility to the communities we serve," said Eric Watson, Vice President, Sales Operations, Kia America. "Our partnership with The Ocean Cleanup is focused on action – proven and scalable solutions that help remove ocean plastic pollution at its source. This work is about turning intention into impact, and we are proud to help expand these efforts across Southern California."The initiative also receives support from partner Primo Brands.Expansion Aligns with Global 30 Cities InitiativeThe Los Angeles expansion is part of The Ocean Cleanup's 30 Cities Program, which aims to stop up to one-third of all plastic waste flowing from rivers into the world's oceans by the