Ocean Cleanup adds new plastic collector in Indonesia

The Ocean Cleanup, the international non-profit project that aims to rid the world’s oceans of plastic, will be installing a new collection device in Indonesia.

The organizations has signed an agreement with the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Government of Tangerang Regency, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, and the Dutch Government to install an Interceptor Original to capture plastic in the Cisadane River in Indonesia.

The new deployment, designated Interceptor 020, is scheduled for deployment before the end of 2023.

Interceptor 020 will contribute to tackling the estimated 1000 tons of plastic emitted via the Cisadane into the Java Sea each year. It will be the second Interceptor deployed in Indonesia after Interceptor 001, deployed in the Cengkareng Drain, Jakarta, in 2018.

The Cisadane River is high on the list of priority rivers for Indonesian authorities and for The Ocean Cleanup, particularly in light of the Joint Declaration agreed as part of Indonesia’s hosting of the G20 Summit in 2022. Interceptor 020 marks another step in our mission to intercept 80% of plastic leakage into oceans worldwide and to help Indonesia meet its goals to reduce marine plastic debris by 70% in 2025.

“We are pleased to support the involvement of The Ocean Cleanup and the Government of the Netherlands to deploy the Interceptor on the Cisadane River,’’ said Jarot Widyoko, director general of water resources, Ministry of Public Works and Housing of Indonesia.

“This is a step forward towards contributing together with the Government of Tangerang Regency to reduce the plastic waste from rivers into the ocean.’’

The Interceptor Original forms part of The Ocean Cleanup’s expanding portfolio of solutions for removing plastic from rivers worldwide. Solar powered and capable of autonomous plastic extraction, the Interceptor Original extracts plastic flowing with the river and deposits it into six dumpsters on a floating barge inside the system.

Once filled up, local operators empty the dumpsters and send the plastic for on-shore processing. Interceptor Originals are currently deployed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, and the United States and, to date, have prevented over two million kilograms of trash from reaching our oceans worldwide.

The Interceptor portfolio also includes the experimental Interceptor Trashfence (trialed in Guatemala last year) and the Interceptor Barrier and Interceptor Tender, both currently operational in Jamaica. The organization continues to research new Interceptor designs.

The deployment of Interceptor 020 involves collaboration with partners BBWS Cilliwung-Cisadane (mandator), Tangerang Regency – DLHK (operator and waste transporter), and Tanjung Burung Waste Bank (waste sorter).

The deployment of Interceptor 020 is part of the Global Implementation Partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.