The Ocean Cleanup moving towards deployment of Mumbai Interceptors™ 

• The initiative targets the elimination of 5 million kg of plastic entering the Arabian Sea annually, threatening coastal ecosystems and biodiversity 
• Memoradum of Understanding signed with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board 
• Permits secured from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai for action at Trombay Creek and Malad Creek sites 
• Implementation of the deployments will be done in collaboration with Plastic Fischer and United Way Mumbai

Mumbai, 30 April 2026

The Ocean Cleanup, the global non-profit organisation dedicated to ridding the world’s oceans of plastic pollution, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), formalising a collaborative framework to fast-track the interception of plastic waste in Mumbai’s waterways before it reaches the ocean.

Aiming for technological deployments at Trombay Creek and Malad Creek sites, The Ocean Cleanup has also secured permits from Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Storm Water Drain Department – the authority of waterways within the municipal jurisdiction of Greater Mumbai. The partnership signals the coming together of global technological innovation and local institutional support to address one of India’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The MoU with MPCB establishes a coordinated pathway for regulatory facilitation and long-term monitoring as The Ocean Cleanup prepares to implement Interceptor solutions across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Under the framework of the MoU, MPCB will provide regulatory endorsement, facilitate coordination with relevant government stakeholders, and support alignment with state-level environmental priorities. The MoU is designed to enable science-led implementation while ensuring compliance, transparency, and scalability.

Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, said: “Solving ocean plastic pollution requires action at the source. Mumbai, being a dense, complex urban ecosystem, represents both a challenge and an opportunity where strategic river interception can deliver meaningful environmental and social impact. The collaborations with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai provide the institutional framework needed to deploy our technology responsibly and effectively.”

Mr. Siddhesh R. Kadam, Chairman, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, said: “By intercepting plastic waste at its source through science‑based solutions and strong regulatory oversight, this collaboration demonstrates how innovation and governance can together protect Maharashtra’s waterways and coastal ecosystems.”

Mr. Nabil Taouati, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mumbai, said: “The Netherlands, as a global leader in water management, circular economy practices, and innovative waste solutions, is delighted to see this Dutch technology contributing to this important initiative. This initiative also builds on ongoing Dutch engagement in India in sustainable waste management, combining social impact with technological innovation.”

As part of the next phase, The Ocean Cleanup will deploy its Interceptor technology beginning with pilot projects in Trombay Creek and Malad Creek. On-ground operations and waste management will be led by social enterprise Plastic Fischer, which, with more than 100 employees, currently operates across seven Indian cities. The collaboration with Plastic Fischer will ensure efficient collection of intercepted trash and responsible waste processing. In parallel, community engagement and stakeholder consultations will be supported by United Way Mumbai, bringing more than two decades of social impact experience in the field of climate action, to strengthen local participation and awareness efforts towards responsible waste management.

The initial work is also being supported by AT Capital.

Arvind Tiku, Founder and Chairman of the AT Capital Group Singapore, said: “We are thrilled to be part of this long-term conservation project to revitalise Mumbai’s waterways. Our sponsorship forms part of AT Capital’s ongoing commitment to supporting environmental, health and education programmes worldwide. This project is a crucial step towards safeguarding Mumbai’s natural beauty and biodiversity.”

The Ocean Cleanup’s research reveals that Mumbai leaks nearly  5 million kilograms of plastic waste annually into the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean. This leakage threatens over 220 kilometres of coastline, approximately 152 square kilometres of mangroves, 107 protected species, and the livelihoods of nearly 1.9 million people dependent on coastal ecosystems. With the MoU now formalised, permits granted by MCGM and pilot deployments set to begin, the collaboration marks a decisive shift from assessment to action.

About The Ocean Cleanup 

The Ocean Cleanup is a nonprofit organization that develops and scales technologies to rid the 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 May 2026, the non-profit has collected over 50 million kilograms (110.2 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 200 people. The organization is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with international operations in 10 countries.