Verified River Plastic Recovery & Recycling - India & Indonesia

Supporting plastic collection and recycling projects across India and Indonesia

Every year, around 13 million tons of plastic enter our oceans, most of it carried by rivers. Plastic Fischer stops it right there. Using floating barriers called TrashBooms, the project intercepts plastic before it breaks down into microplastics, while creating full-time jobs for local communities. Plastic Fischer sorts and recycles the collected material at its own facilities. Each kilogram is tracked and verified by third-party software (Inclusiv by ASM), turning pollution into transparent, measurable impact. To date, the project has recovered over 3.2 million kg of plastic, deployed over 71 TrashBooms and created 98 full-time jobs across 8 sites in India and Indonesia.

Verified River Plastic Recovery & Recycling - India & Indonesia

Info

Purchase type

This project provides a verified waste credit.

Active since: 2 October 2025

Category

Circular Economy

Background

Every year, around 13 million tons of plastic enter our oceans, most of it carried by rivers. Plastic Fischer stops it there. Using floating barriers called TrashBooms, the project intercepts plastic before it breaks down into microplastics, while creating full-time jobs for local communities. Plastic Fischer sorts and recycles the collected material at its own facilities. Each kilogram is tracked and verified by Inclusiv by ASM, turning pollution into transparent, measurable impact. To date, the project has recovered over 3.2 million kg of plastic.

Why did we choose this project?

Protecting oceans –the life support of our planet– is crucial. The project prevents plastic from entering rivers and seas, combining ecological and social impact. Plastic Fischer is internationally recognised (World Economic Forum, UN Ocean Decade) and has already removed over 3.2 million kg of plastic. Its hyper-local approach creates full-time jobs and empowers local leaders, turning community action into lasting global impact.

How does it work?

At the heart of Plastic Fischer's efforts is the 3L Initiative – local, low-tech, low-cost. Central to this approach is the TrashBoom, a locally manufactured barrier that effectively captures large amounts of plastic waste from rivers before it can break down into microplastics. Plastic Fischer operates its own sorting facilities at every location. Here, the collected material is dried, sorted, and co-processed. Recyclable plastics are passed on to local recycling companies, while non-recyclable materials are used as alternative energy sources in cement plants.

How do we know it's working?

The project measures impact through clear, verifiable results. Over 3.2 million kg of plastic have been removed from rivers, collected materials are responsibly recycled, and long-term waste management systems are established. Regular monitoring, community feedback, and transparent reporting ensure the project delivers both environmental benefits and social impact, creating measurable change for people and the planet.

UN Sustainability Goals

About UN Sustainability Goals

Location

India, Indonesia

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Action feed

Plastic Fischer's work in India has included organising large-scale cleanup activities intended to encourage people to think differently about waste disposal. Photo credit: Plastic Fischer

Inside one of this project's Material Recovery Facilities. Photo credit: Plastic Fischer

Excavator cleanup. Photo credit: Plastic Fischer

In collecting plastic, this TrashBoom in Mumbai helps to protect both mangroves and flamingos. Photo credit: Plastic Fischer

Plastic Fischer only hires from the cities they operate in. Locals manage projects, secure permits, operate technology, and handle waste processing. Beyond providing stable employment and income for families, river communities benefit from cleaner waterways in front of their homes - fewer waterborne diseases, reduced flooding, and improved quality of life.

Approximately 80% of ocean plastic comes from rivers, most of which floats in the top 50 cm of water. Once it reaches the ocean, only about 1% of this plastic remains on the surface - the rest sinks or breaks apart. Capturing this waste in rivers while it is still in larger pieces is critical.

Working primarily in cleaning tributaries is one of the most effective approaches to getting big, heavily polluted rivers clean. This method avoids boat traffic and the wild force of major rivers during the rainy season.

The regular TrashBoom is a swimming barrier that stops the vast majority of River Plastic while allowing marine life to swim underneath. It is a self-aligning, modular, passive collection solution from which River Plastic is manually retrieved.

At Plastic Fischer sorting facilities the collected material is dried, carefully sorted and processed in the most sustainable way. Recyclable plastics are passed on to local recycling companies, while non-recyclable materials are used as alternative energy sources in cement plants.

TrashBoom technology is critical as it captures plastic waste before it breaks down into microplastics and enters the ocean.

At the heart of Plastic Fischer efforts is the 3L Initiative: local, low-tech, low-cost. Central to this approach is the TrashBoom, a locally manufactured barrier that effectively captures large amounts of plastic waste from rivers.

Finishing deployment of a Trashboom system in India. The device goes 50cm below the water line allowing fish to swim under. (Photo credit: Plastic Fischer)

Verified River Plastic Recovery & Recycling - India & Indonesia joined Pinwheel!

Plastic recovery & recycling- India & Indonesia was verified by Pinwheel