EPISODE · Apr 16, 2026 · 43 MIN
Is Microplastics Removal From Waterways Possible? | Where The Ocean Meets: Nathaniel Banks
from Where The Ocean Meets: · host Joel Tasche
A Princeton-educated architect walks into a water treatment plant and violently shakes microplastics into a bathtub.What sounds like a joke written by an intoxicated AI is reality for Nathaniel Banks.In this episode, we explore how thinking through problems from start to finish can help with the daunting task of solving the microplastic problem.Nathaniel is CEO & Co-Founder of PolyGone. Nature inspired their filter technology, which can remove microplastics from different kinds of waterways.We discuss how they came up with the idea, how they got it to work, and where the technology needs to go to have a significant impact.Get a glimpse into a mind that microplastics obviously haven't had any impact on yet.Key Topics:The scale and health impacts of microplastic pollutionHow aquatic plants inspired a revolutionary filtration technologyThe journey from architecture to environmental innovationReal-world deployment and results from water treatment facilitiesThe regulatory challenges and private sector opportunitiesWhat happens to collected microplastics and recycling innovations
What this episode covers
A Princeton-educated architect walks into a water treatment plant and violently shakes microplastics into a bathtub.What sounds like a joke written by an intoxicated AI is reality for Nathaniel Banks.In this episode, we explore how thinking through problems from start to finish can help with the daunting task of solving the microplastic problem.Nathaniel is CEO & Co-Founder of PolyGone. Nature inspired their filter technology, which can remove microplastics from different kinds of waterways.We discuss how they came up with the idea, how they got it to work, and where the technology needs to go to have a significant impact.Get a glimpse into a mind that microplastics obviously haven't had any impact on yet.Key Topics:The scale and health impacts of microplastic pollutionHow aquatic plants inspired a revolutionary filtration technologyThe journey from architecture to environmental innovationReal-world deployment and results from water treatment facilitiesThe regulatory challenges and private sector opportunitiesWhat happens to collected microplastics and recycling innovations
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Is Microplastics Removal From Waterways Possible? | Where The Ocean Meets: Nathaniel Banks
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