Floating Urban Parks Made Entirely From Recycled Plastic Waste

July 13, 2021 by Robin Plaskoff Horton

Two floating urban parks made entirely of reclaimed plastic waste, one in the Netherlands and the other in Germany, demonstrate the value and potential of reusing plastic debris to create public green spaces.

Rotterdam floating park made entirely of recycled plastic waste.

Seating for floating park made entirely of recycled plastic debris.

The floating urban parks offer green open space while also stimulating local biodiversity.

In collaboration with the Municipality of Rotterdam, the non-profit Recycled Island Foundation’s Clean Rivers project developed the first floating park of its kind and hopes to establish the concept internationally.

Floating park's bricks made entirely of retrieved plastic waste.

Floating in the Maas River about 1 5/8 feet (1/2 meter) deep, the 1500 sq foot (140 sq-meter) park offers green space for people to gather while also serving to stimulate biodiversity in the city’s harbor area.

Floating park's bricks made entirely of retrieved plastic waste double as planters.

The park’s 28 hexagonal-shaped floating building blocks each contain different layers of plants and soil with vegetation growing on top of the blocks and through them into the water.

Bricks for floating park made entirely of recycled plastic debris.

The result is an enhanced natural habitat that provides food, shelter and a breeding ground for local birds, fish, snails, worms and beetles.

clear rivers recycled plastic waste seating

The parks feature 3D-printed seating made from retrieved plastic debris.

Collaborating with the Dutch design firm, Conscious Designs, the developers created and installed 3D-printed sofas made from the retrieved plastic litter.

Floating park made entirely of recycled plastic debris. Floating park in Düsseldorf.

Clearing plastic from rivers can help save our oceans.

Over a period of 1 1/2 years, Clean Rivers developed, tested and monitored three passive litter traps to efficiently retrieve the plastics from the Port of Rotterdam, the Port of Brussels and the Indonesian island, Ambon.

Litter traps collect plastic waste debris to recycle into floating parks. Litter traps collecting plastic debris.

The developers say that because 80-95% of the plastics in the ocean flows from city rivers, clearing plastic from rivers can help save our oceans.

clean rivers plan for circular economy

Clear Rivers retrieves the plastics directly from municipal rivers and ports to actively prevent the further accumulation of the plastic soup polluting the world’s seas and oceans.

Clear Rivers continues to search for new international locations in which to expand their concept for retrieving litter in rivers before it reaches the seas and oceans.

(The Netherlands is no stranger to floating structures as it’s the home of the world’s first floating dairy farm.)

Images via the Recycled Island Foundation.