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September 2025

1st new modular Litter Trap placed in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. This compact installation, to capture marine debris, is placed in the Riedijkshaven in Dordrecht. The Litter Trap will retrieve plastic marine pollution and will prevent further spreading, of litter, into our Dutch waterways and eventually the North Sea. The retrieval device will be emptied on a weekly basis. The Modular Litter Trap is our latest development to stop plastic marine pollution in a durable and (cost) effective manner. The design follows after installing more than twenty Litter Traps in international locations since 2017. The design is compact, modular and easy to implement. The different parts fit into the back of our van. In this way it can easily be transported to its location. After assembly the Litter Trap can be pleased by only two people. The Litter Trap is durable and produced of recycled plastic, making it an important element to achieve a circular economy. The installation in Dordrecht is done in collaboration with Waterschap Hollandse Delta and the Gemeente Dordrecht.

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Modular Litter Trap in Dordrecht.

Electric propulsion to stop plastic debris. In Rotterdam we’re concluding the 1st months of our pilot. An electric propeller engine pushes plastic debris out of the fairway towards our newly placed Litter Trap. In this way we will be even more effective with the retrieval of plastic marine pollution in rivers, canals and ports. Solar panels provide a durable energy source. We’ve tested the effect on different kinds of plastic, in different weather conditions and with different engine speeds. The conclusions will be used to optimize the installation. The final installation will have a maximum effect on capturing marine debris, while using a minimum in energy. Please stay tuned! Many thanks to Rotterdam Circulair and Brunel Foundation. 🩵

September 2025

Video 1st tests and monitoring.

April 2025

From marine pollution to durable new products in Can Tho, Vietnam! At CLEAR RIVERS, we believe in turning waste into value! Thanks to the collective efforts of our partners and community, after 6 months, 300kg of plastic waste collected from our Litter Trap on Cai Khe Canal and the Zero-Waste School Model at To Hien Thanh Primary School has been transformed into beautiful, functional recycled products! A huge THANK YOU to: * PLASTIC People & Mộc Saigon for their expertise in analyzing and producing these amazing recycled products. * UN Environment Programme & The Usual Hotels for sponsoring these impactful activities and making this transformation possible. * The management board, teachers & students of To Hien Thanh Primary School for their enthusiastic support in collecting plastic waste. * Can Tho People's Committee & Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Can Tho City for their invaluable support in making this initiative a success. This is just the beginning! By giving plastic a new life, we’re reducing waste, cleaning our waterways, and inspiring more sustainable solutions. Stay tuned for more updates and let’s continue working towards a cleaner, greener future!

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Litter Trap and new circular products. 

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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Cleanups in Amsterdam and Rotterdam

Nurdles report

  • Jun 14, 2023

During March, Omroep Brabant visited Breda to document our Litter Trap and shed light on the issue of nurdles. The abundance of nurdles in the rivers of the Netherlands is concerning. Nurdles are tiny plastic particles utilized as raw materials in the plastic industry. It is believed that these nurdles find their way into our waterways during the transfer between plastic producers. Moreover, marine life, including fish and birds, often mistake them for food.


For a comprehensive understanding of this matter, I recommend following the link below to watch the report by Omroep Brabant and NOS.



News from Vietnam

  • May 29, 2023

Exciting news! CLEARS RIVERS is now registered in Vietnam. It’s a big step for our development in the country and it will allow us to further reduce the amount of plastics entering the seas and oceans.


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It’s also the perfect time to introduce Thuy Vo (Teddie), our Project Manager in Vietnam. Teddie is a Junior Project Manager with a demonstrated track record of success in managing complex environmental, tactical urbanism, and youth capacity-building projects over the past five years. As a native of the Mekong Delta, Teddie has a deep personal passion for protecting the environment of the region and preserving the inherent beauty of the Mekong River. During the early days of CLEAR RIVERS' arrival in Vietnam, Teddie played a pivotal role in engaging stakeholders, navigating legal processes to enable the introduction of the Litter Trap into Vietnam, and leading all project-related activities in the country. Teddie currently serves as the official representative of CLEAR RIVERS in Vietnam, leveraging their extensive skills and network to advance the organization's mission to protect the world's waterways.


If you have any ideas for projects in Vietnam and you want us to work with you, feel free to reach out to her at teddie@clearrivers.eu.


At the moment, our 1st Litter Trap is already produced and awaiting in Thailand for shipping to Cần Thơ. Stay tuned for further updates!


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Presentation to the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate

  • May 29, 2023

Last March, CLEAR RIVERS presented its collaboration with Hogeschool Rotterdam and Stichting Technasium to Dutch Minister Micky Adriaansens from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate to highlight the value of collaborations between businesses and the educational system.


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CLEAR RIVERS educational program stimulates:

- Awareness creation of plastic pollution among the young generation.

- New innovations to stop plastic pollution.

- Professional education for the next group of young professionals.


We're delighted to hear that the Dutch Ministry will increase its budget to € 210 million to upscale the collaboration between education and companies. This increased support will hopefully pave the way for a brighter future, where businesses, educational institutions, and government bodies work hand in hand to address environmental challenges and create a more sustainable world for generations to come.



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