Environmental groups are expanding the use of autonomous cleanup drones in coastal corridors where plastic waste tends to surge after heavy rains. The devices skim surface debris and log data on volume and composition, helping municipalities identify where interventions will have the biggest impact.

Scientists involved in the program say prevention still matters most—better waste management and packaging rules do more than any fleet of drones. But intercepting plastic near river mouths is proving more efficient than collecting it once it disperses at sea.

Local officials are now weighing long-term funding models, including producer fees and port levies, to keep cleanup programs running beyond pilot phases.