[eganist]

> Everyone who did nothing came up with something better

With that attitude, no research projects will ever go to production.

As an aside, spending money doesn't destroy it. You talk as if some grave crime was committed... nah. People passionate about the environment (or at the very least, blue collar folks in need of work) likely earned a living supporting this project, something that wouldn't have happened if zero dollars were spent trying to solve the problem. The funding will continue only if we're willing to spend towards validating or invalidating new ideas; researchers just need to either rework or exclude this approach and explore others as different concepts succeed or fail.

[jacobwilliamroy]

The ocean is a common resource, and the full-scale ocean cleanup would have far-reaching negative consequences around the pacific. Opposition to the project is more than just an attitude: it's supported by decades of scientific evidence regarding the nature of the ocean and the plastics within it. The ocean cleanup seems to be ignoring the warnings and skepticism because they believe they'll be on the right side of history no matter what happens. If they don't change course, the ocean cleanup will be heading into a very slow, very expensive PR nightmare.

[eganist]

> The ocean is a common resource, and the full-scale ocean cleanup would have far-reaching negative consequences around the pacific.

Citation seriously needed here. Where does your assertion of certainty ("would") come from?