But one team is on a mission to combat this. Founded in 2020 by Gary, Kelly, and Sam Bencheghib in Bali, Indonesia, now has over 100 passionate river warriors working to stop plastic pollution at its source. With , the team focuses on preventing it from entering the ocean.
Their team of from rivers in Indonesia, the second-largest contributor of plastic pollution to the oceans after China. They also organise emergency cleanups from illegal dumps and along riverbanks, as well as work on enforcing proper waste management at the local level. By 2023, Sungai Watch had built 180 barriers and collected more than 982,000 kgs of plastic waste! Watch this video below of Sam and his team clearing out rivers and drains, then sorting out the trash: With the help of their sister company, , they innovate ways to recycle low-value plastic.
One of their upcycled products is the avant-garde Ombak Seater lounge chair, offered in various colours and crafted from river plastic. For instance, the ocean blue Ombak Seater was made by upcycling 2,000 plastic bags. Money sold from the items are used to help fund river cleanups around the world.
The non-profit organisation has also installed over 270 floating barriers throughout Indonesia's rivers to stop the flow of plastic from reaching the ocean. Their goal is to install 1,000 barriers to clean the world's most polluted rivers. Sungai Watch hosts education and cleanup events with local schools on a regular basis, while organising education sessions.
