Project STOP Partners with Clean Rivers for Sustainable Waste Management in Banyuwangi
In a significant move towards sustainable waste management, Project STOP, co-founded by Borealis and Systemiq in 2017, has welcomed Clean Rivers as a Scale-Up Partner and funder for Phase 3 of the Banyuwangi Hijau program. This partnership is aimed at establishing Indonesia’s first Regency-wide waste management system in Banyuwangi, East Java.
About Project STOP
Project STOP works closely with Indonesia’s national and local governments to develop circular waste management solutions that prevent waste leakage, create jobs, and mitigate environmental risks to public health, tourism, and fisheries. By collaborating with Clean Rivers, the project strengthens its commitment to reducing waste leakage into rivers and oceans, impacting nearly two million people across all program locations.
Clean Rivers and Their Contribution
Clean Rivers, a global non-profit organization dedicated to transforming river systems, aligns its mission with Project STOP by promoting plastic reduction, reuse initiatives, and policy innovation. Clean Rivers’ funding will enhance Indonesia’s waste management framework, aiming to achieve a 70% waste handling rate and a 30% reduction at the source through a “reduce, reuse, recycle” approach.
Impact and Outcomes
The partnership follows the inauguration of a large-scale Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in September 2023, with a second MRF planned for 2025. Clean Rivers’ support will help Project STOP expand services, providing improved waste management infrastructure to up to 850,000 people and creating up to 1,000 full-time jobs. This investment contributes to environmental sustainability and community well-being, establishing a replicable model for future waste management projects in Indonesia.
Broader Collaboration
Phase 3 of Project STOP Banyuwangi is part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment. This initiative builds on existing UAE-Indonesian environmental collaborations, such as the Mangrove Alliance for Climate and the Mohamed bin Zayed–Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Center. Clean Rivers’ contribution is part of the UAE’s $20 million commitment to Indonesia for waste management and clean-up projects.
Launch and Statements
The partnership was officially launched at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 12, 2025. Key signatories included Clean Rivers Managing Director H.E. Abdulla Al Qubaisi, CEO Deborah Backus, Borealis Vice President Thomas Boesen, and Systemiq Partner Ben Dixon. The signing ceremony was witnessed by high-ranking officials from the UAE and Indonesia.
“This partnership with Project STOP reflects our commitment to financing scalable solutions that restore and protect rivers while empowering local communities,” said Deborah Backus, CEO of Clean Rivers.
Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani added, “We are dedicated to ensuring access to reliable waste management for every household in our regency.”
Setting a Benchmark
By pioneering Indonesia’s first Regency-wide circular waste management system, Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau sets a benchmark for sustainable waste solutions nationwide.
Call to Action
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