Project STOP, co-founded by Borealis and Systemiq in 2017, extends welcome to Clean Rivers as a Scale-Up Partner and funder for Phase 3 of the Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau program.

Clean Rivers, the global non-profit organization dedicated to transforming river systems into catalysts for sustainable development, joins forces with Project STOP to establish Indonesia’s first Regency-wide waste management system in the Banyuwangi Regency, East-Java, Indonesia.

Project STOP collaborates with the Indonesian national government, local government and municipalities in developing and implementing effective circular waste management systems and waste management services for households.

By keeping materials in a loop and creating employment opportunities for local communities, Project STOP aims to reduce the harmful impact of mismanaged waste on public health, climate change, tourism and fisheries.

Clean Rivers’ partnership with Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau provides a significant boost to the program’s ambitions to positively impact the lives of nearly 2 million people across all Project STOP locations by reducing waste leakage into marine and riverine environments.

The partnership with Clean Rivers comes on the heels of the inauguration of a large-scale materials recovery facility (MRF) in September 2023 and the construction of a second MRF to commence later in 2025. Clean Rivers’ funding will enable Project STOP to expand, providing up to 850,000 people with access to the new MRF’s and an affordable, end-to-end waste management system while creating up to 1,000 full-time jobs.

"Clean Rivers supports initiatives that contribute to systemic change with lasting environmental and social impact through close collaboration with local governments and organizations," says Deborah Backus, CEO of Clean Rivers. "This partnership with Project STOP builds on our broader commitment to finance scalable solutions that restore and protect rivers while empowering local communities."

“The Banyuwangi Regency is dedicated to bringing access to reliable, circular waste management to every household in our regency,“ says Ipuk Fiestiandani, Regent of Banyuwangi. “We are pleased to continue partnering with Project STOP to accomplish this ambitious goal, and thankful for the commitment from Clean Rivers.”

“We are honored to welcome Clean Rivers as our Scale-Up Partner in Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau,” says Markus Horcher, Director Sustainability & Public Affairs at Borealis.“Collaboration remains key in addressing the complex issue of marine littering. We are grateful for Clean Rivers’ deep-seated commitment to partner with the Indonesian government, the communities and us to achieve our common ambitious goals of Project STOP in Indonesia.”

“Creating the first Regency-wide circular waste management system in Indonesia will serve as a beacon for other regencies to follow and build upon,” says Widharmika Agung, Partner at Systemiq. “This monumental accomplishment is only possible due to the leadership and vision from the Banyuwangi Regency and many national ministries, and Project STOP is proud to play a role in supporting this important work.”