The Ballona Creek Interceptor™ 007—developed by The Ocean Cleanup—is a fully automated, solar-powered trash collection device designed to capture floating plastic, trash, and litter before they reach the ocean.

In October 2022, Los Angeles County Public Works deployed Interceptor™ 007 at the mouth of Ballona Creek as part of the Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor Pilot Project, marking the first deployment of an Interceptor™ in North America. The purpose of the Pilot was to evaluate the feasibility of the Interceptor™ as a method of trash capture in Ballona Creek. During the Pilot, Interceptor™ 007 prevented over 250,000 pounds (125 tons) of trash and debris from reaching the Pacific Ocean and local beaches. The amount of trash and debris captured was over twice the anticipated amount of approximately 60 tons, which was based on historical trash capture in Ballona Creek.

In October 2024, after completion of the Pilot, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the ongoing operation and maintenance of Interceptor™ 007 in Ballona Creek as a last line of defense to capture floating trash and debris before they enter Santa Monica Bay. The Board’s approval established the Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor™ Project.

When trash and debris are anticipated to flow down Ballona Creek during and following rain events, Interceptor™ 007’s booms are deployed in a V-shape configuration to capture and funnel trash and debris into Interceptor™ 007. The rest of the time, the booms are deployed in a configuration that does not restrict access to the creek.