Pilot success at Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) paves way for full-scale deployment of PolyGone Systems micro-plastic removal technology

Atlantic City, NJ — November 8, 2025 — A year after the grand unveiling of the micro-plastic removal pilot at ACUA’s wastewater treatment facility, the partnership between PolyGone Systems and ACUA is now transitioning into a full-scale implementation phase — marking a significant milestone in the fight against micro-plastic pollution in treated effluent waters.

Back in September 2024, PolyGone launched its first industrial-scale pilot of its so-called “Artificial Root Filter” at ACUA’s facility (which treats approximately 40 million gallons of wastewater per day). The system, installed in the effluent equalization basin, is designed to intercept hydrophobic and buoyant micro-plastic particles that would otherwise bypass conventional wastewater treatment.

According to PolyGone’s website, the pilot has now processed and removed more than 520 million micro-plastic particles, over 720 filter trays have been deployed, and the site serviced more than 220,000 households — figures that underline the scale and effectiveness of the technology in its first year.

Key Outcomes

• The pilot consistently exceeded performance targets for micro-plastic removal, with lab analyses showing a marked reduction in micro-plastic load in the treated effluent stream. (Internal data from PolyGone and ACUA.)
• The educational pavilion sited alongside the filtration system has welcomed thousands of students and community visitors, helping raise awareness of micro-plastic threats and filtration solutions.
• The partnership forged under funding from the NOAA Sea Grant Marine Debris Challenge Competition and the New Jersey CSIT Clean Tech Demonstration Grant has retained momentum into 2025, with discussions underway to scale the system to other wastewater-treatment facilities across the U.S.

Next Steps & Outlook

With the pilot phase deemed successful, ACUA and PolyGone are now preparing for Phase 2, which will convert the pilot into a full-scale operational system, optimized for continuous use rather than demonstration. The roll-out will include:

• Installation of additional filter arrays to cover the full plant effluent flow rather than a subset.
• Formal integration into ACUA’s routine operations and maintenance schedule (filters cleaned weekly, replaced semi-annually under the pilot)
• Deployment of collected micro-plastics into up-cycling or resource-recovery pathways, turning what was a waste stream into a feedstock.
• Expansion of the technology to other municipalities, informed by the ACUA pilot results and operational lessons.

ACUA President Matthew DeNafo remarked: “This pilot has proven that micro-plastic removal is not only feasible at municipal scale but can be operationalized. We are proud to lead the way.”

PolyGone co-founder Yidian Liu added: “We’ve moved from demonstration to deployment. The next few months will focus on system refinement and replication so that we can bring this solution to many more treatment plants.”

Implications for Industry & Policy

• Municipal wastewater utilities: The ACUA example offers a blueprint for how treatment plants can cost-effectively add micro-plastic removal atop existing processes.
• Regulators & policymakers: With mounting evidence that conventional treatment does not capture many micro-plastics, the pilot’s success provides a real-world data point for potential new standards or incentives.
• Cleantech & circular-economy sectors: The integration of micro-plastic capture with up-cycling creates a novel value chain, turning a pollutant into a feedstock.
• Research & education: The project’s educational pavilion underscores the importance of linking infrastructure deployment with public engagement — especially when dealing with emerging contaminants like micro-plastics.

Quotes of Note

“We’ve removed over half a billion micro-plastic pieces in under a year, from a plant serving 220,000 residents — the data speaks for itself.” — Yidian Liu, PolyGone Systems

“Our facility serves 14 municipalities and processes 40 million gallons per day. If this system works here, it can work anywhere.” — Matthew DeNafo, ACUA

What to Watch in 2025

• The formal commencement of full-scale operations at ACUA and performance metrics over the next 6-12 months.
• The announcement of partner utilities adopting the technology; whether PolyGone signs contracts beyond New Jersey.
• Policy developments at state or federal level referencing micro-plastic removal from wastewater effluent.
• The economic model: cost per ton of micro-plastics removed, capital/operating costs, and cost-benefit versus environmental/health outcomes.

Conclusion

One year in, the ACUA-PolyGone pilot has moved the needle — from concept to scalable action. With robust removal numbers, an operational plan underway and replication on the horizon, this initiative could mark a turning point in the management of micro-plastic pollution in wastewater. If the next phase maintains performance, regulators, utilities and investors may take note — and the model could scale widely. See Company Profile.