Abstract: The invention concerns a device for collecting various items, such as waste, containers or other products, floating at the surface of an aqueous medium, such as sea, river. Said device designed to be towed by one or two boats, essentially consists of at least one filtering bag (1), such as a trawl-net, for confining items to be collected and of a structure (2) whereon the confinement bag (1) is fixed. The confinement bag (1) is detachably fixed on its entire length to said structure (2). The structure (2) is an inflatable structure fixed to the outside of the bag (1) and which, when inflated, maintains at least part of the bag (1) , in particular on the side of the opening of said bag (1), above and/or at the surface of the water. The invention is useful in particular for collecting hydrocarbons.