First Interceptor in Philippines Successfully Operating in Meycauayan River

The Ocean Cleanup and City of Meycauayan have announced the successful launch and operation of Interceptor 028 in the Meycauayan River. Installed for testing in the river since July 1st, Interceptor 028 began extracting waste in late July. The barrier is currently holding back a major flush of invasive water hyacinths tangled with trash and has so far removed over 11 tonnes of the waste from the river. 

As the Interceptor progresses through its testing phase, The Ocean Cleanup, the City Government of Meycauayan, through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) are working together to monitor and optimize performance. Interceptor 028 replaced an existing trash trap operated by the city and has increased catch capacity and efficiency, ensuring less waste is flowing from the Meycauayan River towards Manila Bay.  

Is it estimated that 370 to 540 tonnes of plastic travels through the Meycauayan River system and enters Manila Bay every year. 

Speaking on the successful first phase of the Interceptor 028’s operations in the Meycauayan River, The Ocean Cleanup Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Boyan Slat, said: “This is a major milestone for The Ocean Cleanup – our first Interceptor to operate successfully in the Philippines. We are very grateful to the City Government of Meycauayan, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) for their trust, leadership, and close collaboration towards deploying the very first Interceptor in-country. This highlights how we can work together to turn the tide on plastic pollution in our waterways, and marks the beginning of the 30 Cities Program in the Manila Bay region.”

The Mayor of Meycauayan, Henry R. Villarica, added: “We appreciate this collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup, which helps keep our river cleaner through the regular collection of water hyacinths and other floating debris, a shared accomplishment that our community has come to deeply value.”

Interceptor 028 is the first of several deployments earmarked for the Manila Bay region as part of The Ocean Cleanup’s 30 Cities Program, which aims to cut up to 1/3 of ocean-bound plastic flowing from some of the world’s most polluting waterways.

According to The Ocean Cleanup’s Smart River Survey, 3,500 to 4,400 tonnes of plastic is transported through Manila’s river systems before disbursing into the bay. To complement the work of Interceptor 028 in the Meycauayan River and effectively tackle the wider plastic pollution problem in Manila Bay, The Ocean Cleanup entered into an agreement with the Philippine government to deploy additional Interceptor solutions across the region.

As of October 2026, The Ocean Cleanup has removed over 65 million kilograms (143,3 million pounds) of trash from aquatic ecosystems worldwide. With current operations in 12 countries, including several regional neighbors, the Philippines is set to turn the tide against plastic pollution.

About The Ocean Cleanup

The Ocean Cleanup is a global nonprofit that develops and scales solutions to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. By conducting extensive research, engineering scalable solutions, and partnering with governments, industry, and like-minded organizations, The Ocean Cleanup is working to stop plastic inflow via rivers and remove legacy plastic already polluting the oceans. As of August 2026, the non-profit has collected over 65 million kilograms (143.3 million pounds) of trash from aquatic ecosystems around the world. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup now employs a multi-disciplined team of approximately 250 people. The organization is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with international operations in 12 countries.