Over the past decade, more than 740 tons of marine debris has been cleared from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.And much of it is being put to use.
The ocean currents in the Pacific bring tons of debris like nets, fishing line, and rope to the marine monument.
So since 2002, that debris has been turned into an energy source.
With the help of nearly two dozen private and public partners, the debris is cut up into small pieces, transported to the H-power plant and burned to generate electricity.
"It's pretty much a win-win situation for everybody with NOAA the Coast Guard and Scnitzer and Covanta," said Monument Superintendent David Swatland, "we clean it up, it gets it out of the monument, and they get to use it for energy."
Officials estimate the project creates enough energy to power more than 600 homes for a year.
