ACUA And PolyGone Systems Launch The World's First Commercial Microplastic Filtration System For Municipal Wastewater Treatment

The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) and PolyGone Systems today announced the official launch of two commercial microplastic filtration systems at ACUA’s wastewater treatment facility. This project is the first permanent installation of its kind in the world designed to intercept microplastics before they reach the ocean. The system will protect water quality for over 200,000 residents, beach visitors, and marine ecosystems along the New Jersey coast, marking a historic milestone in tackling one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges. 

The installation follows a two-year pilot that began in 2024, when ACUA became the first utility in the country to adopt PolyGone's microplastic filtration technology, with New Jersey as the first state across the U.S. to back a pilot of this kind. Over two years, the pilot showed strong potential for scalable microplastic removal, capturing more than 580 million microplastic particles a year from a facility that processes 40 million gallons of water per day. 

Backed by that performance, ACUA and PolyGone Systems have moved forward with a permanent, commercial filtration system featuring two enhanced PolyPod™ units that will continuously protect local waterways and marine environments. The shift from pilot to full-scale commercial installation not only solidifies ACUA’s leadership in the global fight against microplastic pollution, but also validates PolyGone Systems’ technology as a scalable solution for the future of microplastic remediation. 

“ACUA is proud to continue its partnership with PolyGone and be the first to implement its permanent microplastic filtration system,” said ACUA President Matthew DeNafo. “Wastewater treatment facilities have long worked to keep waterways clean. This project highlights how embracing technology and addressing new challenges head on can advance that mission.” 

"The greatest opportunity in water treatment isn't simply filtering smaller particles; it's rethinking how we remove them altogether," said Nathaniel Banks, CEO of PolyGone Systems. "By designing technologies that work with natural material interactions instead of against them, we can protect public health by making microplastic water treatment practical at a global scale." 

“New Jersey is leading the way in better understanding the potential impacts microplastics are having on drinking water, wastewater and our environment,” said NJDEP Deputy Commissioner Joe Seebode. “The DEP commends the Atlantic County Utilities Authority and PolyGone on their efforts to prevent microplastics from being discharged to sensitive coastal aquatic ecosystems as our understanding of the environmental and public health impacts of microplastics continues to grow.” 

The PolyPod™ system utilizes PolyGone’s proprietary biomimetic filtration technology to passively capture hydrophobic microplastics from treated effluent before they reach natural waterways. Made possible through crucial financing from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, ACUA’s deployment sets a scalable benchmark for wastewater utilities across the U.S. and beyond.