Jan 2025

Additional Litter Trap for Rotterdam! CLEAR RIVERS installed its 4th Litter Trap in the city of Rotterdam. This retrieval device for plastic marine pollution is part of our new pilot to stop plastic pollution also in the fairway. Born from our educational program comes the idea to create a new current to divert plastic marine debris, from the fairway, into our Litter Trap. Last December we had the first successful day of testing in the real life situation and we're currently setting up a three month trail. An electric propeller engine will create a new flow to steer marine pollution. In the first day we've tested any potential negative impact on ships and boats passing by. The new current seems strong enough to divert plastic yet weak enough to effect ship traffic. In the coming months we will further test, optimize and monitor this new way of stopping plastic debris. So please stay tuned! Many thanks to our partners Gemeente Rotterdam, Brunel Foundation, Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland, CrossFit Coolhaven

CLEAR RIVERS Litter Trap Coolhaven (1)s.jpg

CLEAR RIVERS Litter Trap Coolhaven (3)s.jpg

CLEAR RIVERS Litter Trap Coolhaven (5)s.jpg

Litter Trap pilot with propeller engine to create a new current.

Jan 2025

Thank you for your support and collaboration in 2024! We've already started running in 2025 with: - An additional Litter Trap placement in Rotterdam. - The production of a new modular, low budget, Litter Trap. - The development of recycled floatlands to improve the ecosystem in the Mekong Delta. All For a plastic free sea Thank you 🩵 Marjolein Van Noort Jeroen Wupkes Thuy Vo (Teddie) Garanti BBVA, International Brunel Foundation, The Usual Hotels, Rotterdam Circulair, WaterBear Network, Nexio Projects, Green Business Club Rotterdam Alexander, Port of Brussels, Torqeedo, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Recap of 2024 in video

Dec 2024

CLEAR RIVERS starts a new pilot to stop plastic pollution. Born from our educational program comes the idea to create a new current to divert plastic marine pollution, from the fairway, into our Litter Trap. Last week we had the first day of testing in a real life situation. An electric propeller engine creates the new flow to steer floating debris. In the first day we've tested any potential negative impact on ships and boats passing by. The new current seems strong enough to divert plastic yet weak enough to effect ship traffic. In the coming three months we will further test, optimize and monitor this new way of stopping plastic debris. So please stay tuned! Many thanks to our partners Gemeente Rotterdam, Brunel Foundation, Torqeedo, CrossFit Coolhaven.

Litter Trap pilot with propeller engine to create a new current.

Dec 2024

We're excited to share CLEAR RIVERS educational video in Vietnamese! This project is the result of a collaboration with the Graphic Lyceum Rotterdam, where a talented group of students poured their creativity into translating our mission into engaging visuals. This video will be used in our educational programs, helping us explain the significant impact of plastic pollution on water bodies, and how even small pieces of trash can cause big problems for marine life. The animation introduces the innovative Litter Trap, an invention by CLEAR RIVERS that acts like a superhero, capturing trash before it reaches the ocean. Our mission extends beyond just cleanup efforts; we aim to change how people think about and handle trash in their daily lives. By keeping the environment clean and working together, we can make a huge difference. Join us in protecting our rivers and oceans.

CLEAR RIVERS educational video in Vietnamese spoken word

Dec 2024

The Litter Trap pilot in the Gent-Terneuzen canal comes to an end after one year of effective retrieval and monitoring. Many thanks to our project partners Heijmans and Coca-cola Europacific partners. Within this pilot we've seen how our Litter Trap can be effective in large canals with ongoing ship traffic. The Litter Trap was successful in retrieving cross-border (Belgium-The Netherlands) macro marine pollution. But, also a shockingly large quantity of micro plastics was recovered from the water column. Especially the plastic nurdles / pallets were found in large number in the canal that connects the city Gent with the North Sea. Currently we are exploring a new location for this Litter Trap.

Litter Trap in the Gent-Terneuzen canal, the Netherlands

Oct 2024

The Usual sponsors our Litter Trap in Brussels, Belgium. This new partnership allows a continued operation in the Brussels-Charleroi canal. The Litter Trap is originally placed in 2018 and is frequently emptied by the Port of Brussels. Last year 50m3 of floating litter was collected and removed from the water. Does your company also want to support our Litter Trap placements, then please contact us via info@clearrivers.eu

Litter Trap in Brussels, Belgium

Sept 2024

In the Autumn we've intensified our Clean up actions in the Netherlands again. Several cleanups were organised in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Together with local companies, volunteers and students we've cleaned the canals, quays and streets to prevent further disperse of plastic waste. If you and your school or company also want to hold a cleanup with us, then please contact us via info@clearrivers.eu

Cleanups in Amsterdam and Rotterdam

Update from our Litter Traps in Borneo

Aug 23, 2021

Here a quick update from our two Litter Traps on Borneo Island, Malaysia.

In Sandakan, CLEAR RIVERS is learning, exploring and improving its floating devices to collect plastic from the ocean.

Active in the water for nine months, the two litter traps have collected almost 1 ton of plastic pollution!

Currently still in the water, despite the negative consequences of the pandemic and several lockdowns that affected the country, the litter traps are still retrieving plastic from the ocean daily.

After almost a year of testing and monitoring, the Litter Traps urgently need some maintenance due to the monsoon season. Would you like to help us improving the collection of plastic pollution? You can donate in the donate page and, together, we will keep catching plastic!

We are very proud of the impact of the Litter Traps and the amazing work done every day by our partners @futurealamborneo.

Together we are acting towards a plastic-free sea!

One Young World Summit 2021

Aug 12, 2021

Updated: Aug 23, 2021

Recently CLEAR RIVERS' Project Manager Francesca Alberti attended the One Young World Summit 2021 in Munich and spread the word about CLEAR RIVERS’ projects during a powerful global forum of young leaders. In a place full of #ideas and #entrepreneurialism, one of the best think-tank imaginable, Francesca had the chance to share CLEAR RIVERS’ goals and mission, while discussing our approach with people from every corner of the #world: a #network of leaders coming together to discuss the most pressing issues of our time, among which the plastic pollution problem. Learning from the experience and feeling the enthusiasm of other people working towards the same goal, inspired us and pushes us to keep trying. CLEAR RIVERS is looking forward to collaborating. We believe that #together we can make a bigger #impact, together we can act towards a #plastic free sea! #packmaso #OYW2021 #sustainable #plasticfree #future

One Young World Summit as an Audi Scholar

Aug 10, 2021

Updated: Aug 23, 2021

Less than two weeks ago, CLEAR RIVERS Project Manager Francesca Alberti had the priceless opportunity to attend the One Young World Summit 2021 in Munich: one of the world’s biggest and most impactful youth leadership Summit.

Joining the Summit as one of the #Audi Scholars, is a great chance to connect with young leaders from 190+ countries all working to accelerate social impact; a place where young leaders raise their voices and together lead the charge for a brighter future.

Thanks, Audi Environmental Foundation for supporting CLEAR RIVERS and for working together for a more #sustainable #future for everyone. A special thanks to Dr. Matthias Roßmann,

Dr. Rüdiger Recknagel, Amelie Knaus and Kathrin Feigl for making this possible.

CLEAR RIVERS is looking forward to collaborating again on more projects, always working towards a #plasticfree sea!

#packmaso #Audi #OYW2021 #sustainability #future #innovation