rotterdam's floating park is made entirely from recycled plastic waste found in the maas river

in rotterdam, the recycled island foundation has retrieved debris from the city’s rivers and port to create a prototype floating park, which is now open to visitors. aiming to illustrate that recycled plastic from the open waters is a valuable material, the 140 sq-meter, floating landscape comprises a series of hexagonal blocks made entirely from recycled plastic waste. besides its positive environmental impact, the park is beneficial for the river’s ecosystem, as they offer a habitat for micro and macro fauna, including snails, flatworms, beetles and fish.

all images courtesy of the recycled island foundation

the recycled island foundation is a young organization whose aim is the retrieval of debris found in rivers and river mouths and the sustainable re-use of these plastics, illustrated in rotterdam’s prototype floating park. ‘when we retrieve the plastics directly in our cities and ports we actively prevent the further growth of the plastic soup in our seas and oceans,’ explains the foundation’s initiator, ramon knoester, ‘the realization of the building blocks in recycled plastics is an important step towards a litter free river.’ in order to collect debris, the foundation developed three passive litter traps which were tested, monitored and optimized for  a trail period of 1,5 year. the litter traps are able to capture plastics by using the existing stream of the river, and keep them trapped even when the direction of the stream changes. 

in collaboration with the rotterdam municipality, the foundation has developed the floating green structures to stimulate a mentality of ecology in the city’s harbor. new vegetation can grow on the hexagon-shaped building blocks, while birds, fish, and micro-organisms find food, breeding ground and shelter in the floating park.

recycled park is realized with the support of BRG (existing rotterdam territory), citylab 010, rijkswaterstaat (ministry of infrastructure and water management), cargill, van der vorm real estate, audi environmental foundation,and all the partners that physically contributed to the realization.