Reply #2: I was inclined to think that as well

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There are graphics that show 2 (huge) swirling areas - one by Japan, one by the US west coast. It seems that some kind of scooper could be devised. I guess the stuff sinks after swirling around for a bit. And maybe there is just too much of it.

The article seemed to advocate people and industry not allowing the stuff to runoff to begin with. It seems that companies would need to be required to clean up their spills as well:

"One ship heading from Los Angeles to Tacoma, Wash., disgorged 33,000 blue-and-white Nike basketball shoes in 2002. Other loads lost at sea include 34,000 hockey gloves and 29,000 yellow rubber ducks and other bathtub toys."

There isn't anything to make that happen right now.