Citarum River is the biggest river located in the West Java Province. It provides ecosystem services: water source, flood protection, and habitat for local communities and biodiversity.

Mismanaged waste that happens frequently near the river affects floodings, water contamination, and waste accumulation in the ocean 80% of the waste flowing into the oceans originates from the land that flows with the rivers. Approximately 2,000 tons of plastic flow through the river each day and are deposited into the Java Sea.

The project conducts technological and social approaches to addressing plastic waste in the Citarum River. First, the technological approaches are installing a physical capture system in the Citarum River to remove floating plastic and other waste before it enters the oceans, data collection: on the weight and composition of plastic, and collected plastics have the potential to be converted to oil (pyrolysis).

Regarding the social approach, the project conducts communication campaigns to the communities living around the pilot site and people in general, encouraging the communities to be more responsible in managing waste by providing workshops on proper waste management, and increasing the awareness to people in general, nationally and internationally.

The project's goal is to collect roughly 5 tonnes of waste per day, which will reduce plastic pollution entering seas via river systems. We also hope to encourage correct waste disposal by raising awareness about river and marine debris, as well as responsible waste management. Finally, we want to have a mechanism in place to track river plastic garbage so that we can design targeted measures and policies.