Clean Rivers Joins Forces with Project STOP to Advance Waste Management and Combat Plastic Pollution in Indonesia

Clean Rivers Joins Forces with Project STOP to Advance Waste Management and Combat Plastic Pollution in Indonesia

(IN BRIEF) Clean Rivers has partnered with Project STOP to help reduce plastic waste leakage and improve waste management in Indonesia through the Banyuwangi Hijau Phase 3 project. This partnership is part of a broader agreement between the UAE and Indonesia, with the goal of providing sustainable waste management services to nearly 2 million people. Clean Rivers’ funding will support the creation of new materials recovery facilities and help expand waste management systems, creating thousands of jobs and contributing to the country’s environmental goals. The project aligns with Indonesia’s targets for waste reduction and circular waste management.

(PRESS RELEASE) VIENNA, 13-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Clean Rivers, a leading global non-profit focused on tackling plastic pollution in river systems, has entered into an impactful partnership with Project STOP to help combat waste leakage into the ocean and improve waste management services in Indonesia. This collaboration, part of Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau Phase 3, is an integral component of a bilateral agreement between the UAE and Indonesia aimed at reducing plastic waste and supporting environmental sustainability. The initiative will directly benefit nearly 2 million people across Project STOP locations.

Project STOP, co-founded by Borealis in 2017, has been working with the Indonesian national and local governments to develop and implement effective circular waste management systems, with a focus on reducing plastic waste, reusing materials, and providing accessible waste management services to households. The initiative is instrumental in addressing environmental concerns such as pollution, while also creating job opportunities and improving public health. Through Clean Rivers’ support, Phase 3 of the project will play a critical role in reaching Indonesia’s waste handling goals and ensuring widespread access to sustainable waste management solutions.

This partnership comes on the heels of the inauguration of a large-scale materials recovery facility (MRF) in September 2023, with a second MRF set to be built later in 2025. With Clean Rivers’ funding, the expansion will provide up to 850,000 people with access to waste management systems and create up to 1,000 full-time jobs, further contributing to the region’s economic and environmental sustainability. The goal is to establish a scalable model that can be replicated throughout Indonesia.

Project STOP Banyuwangi Phase 3 is part of a broader effort within a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment. This partnership is one of the key initiatives under the UAE’s USD 20 million commitment to waste management and clean-up projects in Indonesia. The partnership was officially launched during the World Government Summit in Dubai on February 12, 2025.

Deborah Backus, CEO of Clean Rivers, remarked, “We are proud to partner with Project STOP on such an important initiative. Our mission aligns with this partnership, as we aim to finance scalable solutions to protect and restore rivers while empowering local communities.”

Markus Horcher, Director of Sustainability & Public Affairs at Borealis, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing marine littering, adding, “We are thrilled to have Clean Rivers join us as a Scale-Up Partner in Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau. Together, we can drive meaningful change for the environment and the communities we serve.”

The Banyuwangi Regency’s leadership is committed to ensuring that every household in the area has access to sustainable waste management services. This transformative initiative, which aims to establish Indonesia’s first Regency-wide circular waste management system, will serve as a model for other regencies in the country.

For more information about Project STOP please visit their website.

About Project STOP
Launched in 2017 by Borealis and Systemiq, Project STOP (STop Ocean Plastics) works hand-in-hand with city governments to create effective circular waste management systems in high-need areas of Southeast Asia. The initiative supports cities with technical expertise to achieve zero-leakage of waste, increase recycling, build economically sustainable programs, creating new jobs and reducing the harmful impact of mismanaged waste and uncontrolled waste burning on public health, climate change, tourism, and fisheries. The first city partnership was established in 2017 in the municipality of Muncar, East Java, followed by others in Pasuruan, East Java and Jembrana, Bali. Between February 2022 and June 2023, all three Project STOP city partnerships were fully handed over to the local regency governments.

The focus of Project STOP is now to provide Indonesia’s first Regency-wide circular waste management system (Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau).

For more information on Project STOP visit www.stopoceanplastics.com

About Borealis
​Borealis is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and sustainable polyolefin solutions. In Europe, Borealis is also an innovative leader in polyolefin recycling and a major producer of base chemicals. We leverage our polymer expertise and decades of experience to offer value-adding, innovative and circular material solutions for key industries such as consumer products, energy, healthcare, infrastructure and mobility.

​With customers in over 120 countries and a head office in Vienna, Austria, Borealis employs around 6,000 people. In 2023, we generated a net profit of EUR 216 million. OMV, the integrated energy, fuels & feedstock and chemicals & materials company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, owns 75% of our shares. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), owns the remaining 25%.

​In re-inventing essentials for sustainable living, we’re building on our commitment to safety, our people, innovation and technology, and performance excellence. We are accelerating the transformation to a circular economy of polyolefins and expanding our geographical footprint to better serve our customers around the globe. Our operations are augmented by two important joint ventures: Borouge (with ADNOC, headquartered in the UAE); and Baystar™ (with TotalEnergies, based in the US).
​www.borealisgroup.com | www.borealiseverminds.com

About Systemiq
Systemiq is a systems change company that works with businesses, policymakers, investors and civil society organisations to reimagine and reshape the systems that sit at the heart of society – energy, nature and food, materials, built-environment, and finance – to accelerate the shift to a more sustainable and inclusive economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq is a certified B Corp, and has offices in Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and the UK. Find out more at www.systemiq.earth or via LinkedIn and X.

About Clean Rivers
​Clean Rivers is a global non-profit dedicated to transforming river systems into catalysts for sustainable development. The organisation funds and facilitates initiatives led by circular economy principles to reduce waste leakage, drive innovation, and empower communities. Established in 2023 and based in Abu Dhabi, Clean Rivers prioritises local knowledge and expertise, recognising the pivotal role of communities in addressing riverine pollution, cleaning up waterways, and driving sustainable development.

Clean Rivers operates as a portfolio entity of the Erth Zayed Philanthropies, a UAE initiative uniting major philanthropic efforts under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, strengthening its capacity to deliver impactful, large-scale environmental solutions and furthering the UAE’s commitment to uplifting communities worldwide.

For more information on Clean Rivers:
Website: cleanrivers.org
Instagram: @cleanriversorg
LinkedIn: clean-rivers-global

Media Contacts:

Borealis
Borealis Group Media Desk
Tel: +43 1 22 400 899 (Vienna, Austria)
E-mail: media@borealisgroup.com

Systemiq
Ulrike Stein, Senior Communications Manager, Systemiq
Tel: +44 782 705 8082 (London, UK)E-Mail: ulrike.stein@systemiq.earth

Arapa Efendi, Senior Communications Officer, Project STOP
Tel.: +62 811 1053 3827 (Indonesia)
E-mail: arapa.efendi@systemiq.earth

Clean Rivers
Aza Wee Sile, Senior Communications Manager, Clean Rivers
Tel: +971 56 985 0244 (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
Email: Aza.sile@cleanrivers.org

SOURCE: Borealis