SAL05: "Zero Waste at Sea: Innovating Urban Solid Waste Management for a Cleaner Ocean in Coastal Cities "

Plastic-Free Tide: Tainheiros Cove Drowns in Plastic, But There Is Still Hope  Tainheiros Cove, located in the Ribeira neighborhood of Salvador, Brazil, is a historically rich and culturally vibrant coastal area. However, its beauty is being suffocated by plastic pollution. Every tide brings in more waste, affecting marine life, local fishing communities, shellfish gatherers (marisqueiras), and the health of those who depend on the sea.  Our challenge is urgent: to mobilize people, technology, and creativity to clean and protect this unique cove. But we’re not just talking about removing waste—we’re reimagining the relationship between people and the ocean.  How can we engage local youth, fishers, and marisqueiras? How do we transform behavior and infrastructure to prevent waste from reaching the sea in the first place? And how can technology amplify the voices of coastal communities often left out of environmental solutions?  If you believe in collective action, community empowerment, and real change for our oceans, join us. Let’s turn the tide together.

In 48 hours, I plan to develop an integrated digital platform that combines real-time monitoring of plastic pollution in Tainheiros Cove, coordinated community clean-up actions, and engagement tools to empower local residents and shellfish gatherers. The platform will use mobile technology to report and map pollution hotspots, organize volunteer efforts, and share educational content to promote sustainable practices and prevent future waste.

Essential skills for the team:

Software/mobile development
Data analysis
Environmental knowledge/oceanography
Communication and community engagement
User interface and user experience design (UI/UX)