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Rivers

Funding Unlocked to Help Stop Third of All Plastic Flowing From Rivers

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  • The Audacious Project has awarded The Ocean Cleanup with a 121 million USD donation to enable our mission to tackle up to a third of ocean-bound river pollution from 30 strategic cities in South-East Asia and the Americas.

As a non-profit, the impact we create is thanks to the support of thousands of individuals, companies, governments, and other like-minded organizations. These invaluable contributions have enabled us to carry out 23 expeditions to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, intercept an estimated 2-5 percent of global river-borne plastic emissions, prevent nearly 50 million kilograms of trash from reaching the ocean while also helping local communities and wildlife reclaim their environments.

In 2026, we are taking the next step in our mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic through our ambitious 30 Cities Program, which aims to stop 1/3 of global plastic emissions from rivers into the ocean before the end of the decade by targeting some of the world’s most polluting urban centers in Asia and the Americas.

The scale of the problem is matched only by its complexity – plastic pollution does not respect borders, its presence and movement through our aquatic environments actively impacting people, wildlife, and the planet. Tackling this complex problem requires a comprehensive solution, one which combines international policy and regulations with effective field work and remediation.

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How We Plan to Cut Ocean Plastic Pollution by One Third by 2030

So while international policy catches up, The Ocean Cleanup continues to set the pace.

To this end, The Audacious Project, the collaborative funding initiative part of iconic TED, is supporting the 30 Cities Program to accelerate our scale up. The Audacious donor community is committing $121 million of the $350 million needed to complete this stage of our mission. This funding sets a strong foundation for the program and, this year, will be instrumental to the planned deployment of our Interceptor solutions in:

  • Barranquilla, Colombia
  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Mumbai, India
  • Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Denpasar, Indonesia
  • Tasikmalaya, Indonesia
  • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Panama City, Panama
  • Manila Bay Region, Philippines

The Ocean Cleanup’s commitment to creating long-term impact is one of the guiding principles behind the 30 Cities Program. In addition to consultations with local authorities, and other key stakeholders, each river undergoes an exhaustive analysis to identify the most impactful locations for deployment and create tailor-made Interceptor solutions that fit and complement local contexts. These deployments stimulate the development of new infrastructure and enable the recovery of riverine and marine ecosystems that support the social, cultural, and economic dynamics of local communities.

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Map of the first eight coastal cities The Ocean Cleanup will operate to tap one third of all riverine pollution

The Audacious Project convenes philanthropists, funders, and social entrepreneurs to promote large-scale social impact. Every year, the group selects and supports organizations with bold solutions who are tackling some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Having The Audacious Project’s endorsement of The Ocean Cleanup’s comprehensive strategy is a major milestone for the organization. It validates the research and impact we have delivered so far, as well as the strategies we have in place to turn the tide on plastic pollution. These strategies rely on the continued support of our followers, strategic partners, and major institutions like The Audacious Project.

The momentum created by the completion of the 30 Cities Program will enable us to tackle the remaining 2/3 of emissions. This, in conjunction with coastal sweeps of areas downstream from our Interceptors, the deployment of upgraded ocean systems hunting plastic hotspots, and continued advocacy for better international regulations and policy, will help us achieve our ultimate mission of removing 90% of all floating plastic from the ocean by 2040.

The Sunday Times

Our Founder and CEO – Boyan Slat – was interviewed by the Science Editor of The Sunday Times about the 30 Cities Program and how The Audacious Project is helping The Ocean Cleanup’s mission.

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