Much of the trash and debris found in New York Harbor originated as litter discarded on city streets that was subsequently washed into the sewer system. The help prevent the litter from reaching the Bronx River, New York Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has installed $26 million of pollution control devices along the Bronx River.
The below-ground control devices were installed at four sewer outfall locations in the south Bronx. The devices use hydraulic screens and nylon netting systems to capture the litter. In addition to the new control devices, the city’s 144,000 catch basins are designed to trap litter before it can make its way into the sewer lines. The DEP also operates a fleet of skimmer boats that patrol the harbor to capture the floating debris.