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These brilliant barriers help block plastic pollution in Indonesia

Source: Instagram/SungaiWatch

Bali-based environmental organisation Sungai Watch has installed 100 river-barriers, so far capturing almost 350 tonnes of plastic waste that would otherwise have ended up in the ocean.

Sungai Watch barriers stop river plastic reaching the sea

Sungai Watch created a system to clean every river in Indonesia by 2025, and eventually the world. After testing with different techniques, they identified the most efficient barrier: a flexible and movable, low cost barrier for smaller river streams. Sungai Watch has already cleaned over 100 rivers in Indonesia, installed more than 100 barriers, collecting over 345,000kg of plastic. They count a team of 55 members that participated in over 100 community cleanups. 

They already installed more than 100 barriers, collecting more than 345,000kg of plastic.
Sungai Watch has already cleaned over 100 rivers in Indonesia. They already installed more than 100 barriers, collecting more than 345,000kg of plastic. Source: sungai.watch

The barriers also serve as a conversation starter to curb plastic pollution at a local level

Founded in 2020 by Gary, Kelly and Sam Bencheghib in Bali, Indonesia, Sungai Watch is now a team of 55 passionate river warriors, working every day to create solutions to stop the flow of plastic pollution from going into the ocean. 

By designing simple trash barriers and operating a collection, sorting and up-cycling system, they have created a scalable approach to tackling plastic pollution. SungaiWatch are on a mission to install 1,000 barriers by 2023.

With more than 80% of plastic waste in the ocean coming from rivers, SungaiWatch believe that the best solution to tackling the problem is by stopping plastic directly at the source with affordable and scalable solutions, upstream in our rivers.

Sungai Watch are scaling rapidly and currently expanding their operation throughout Bali and in Java, Indonesia, the world’s most populated island and home to 90 of the world’s 1,000 most polluted rivers. They have also begun researching an international expansion through Asia and Latin America.

Community outreach is an essential part of the organisation’s mission to combat plastic pollution. They organise all sorts of education sessions and campaigns to engage communities and encourage better waste management. 

From weekly community cleanups in villages throughout Indonesia to school and government presentations. The physical installation of the trash barriers also serve as a conversation starter to curb plastic pollution at a local level. 

Source: Sungai.watch

More than 80% of plastic pollution in the ocean comes from rivers and streams, and Indonesia ranks as the 2nd largest plastic polluter to the oceans in the world.
So far, they count with 50 members that participated in over 100 community cleanups. More than 80% of plastic pollution in the ocean comes from rivers and streams, and Indonesia ranks as the 2nd largest plastic polluter to the oceans in the world. Source: Instagram/SungaiWatch
After testing with different techniques, they identified the most efficient barrier: a flexible and movable, low cost barrier for smaller river streams.
Sungai Watch created a system to clean every river in Indonesia by 2025, and eventually the world. After testing with different techniques, they identified the most efficient barrier: a flexible and movable, low cost barrier for smaller river streams. Source: Instagram/SungaiWatch
Sungai Watch believes every waste they collect has value, and they are currently experimenting with ways to turn trash into products. “We believe that one of the simplest ways to clean our ocean is by starting in our rivers, where we can still prevent the flow of plastics.”
They host mass education and socialisation campaigns with the local community to prevent throw-away behaviour. Sungai Watch believes every waste they collect has value, and they are currently experimenting with ways to turn trash into products. “We believe that one of the simplest ways to clean our ocean is by starting in our rivers, where we can still prevent the flow of plastics.” Source: Instagram/SungaiWatch
Sungai Watch organise emergency cleanups at illegal dumps and along riverbanks to prevent plastic from entering rivers as well as work on enforcing proper waste management at the local level.
A November litter-pick in the Mangrove Forest (Tahura Division) netted 5.5 tons of plastic waste in the first 3 days. Sungai Watch organise emergency cleanups at illegal dumps and along riverbanks to prevent plastic from entering rivers as well as work on enforcing proper waste management at the local level. Source: Instagram/SungaiWatch
Plus they are a great way to collect data to understand how to better improve waste management practices.
The barriers are the perfect tool to get communities and governments involved in cleaning these waterways. Plus they are a great way to collect data to understand how to better improve waste management practices. Source: Instagram/SungaiWatch
The same principle only scaled up is employed for larger waterways.
Bigger rivers call for bigger barriers. The same principle only scaled up is employed for larger waterways. Source: Instagram/SungaiWatch
So far, 365,841 kg of plastics has been collected, along with 401,663 kg of organics, from 113 Barriers installed and 125 + Community cleanups.
No barrier to a cleaner Indonesia — So far, 365,841 kg of plastics has been collected, along with 401,663 kg of organics, from 113 Barriers installed and 125 + Community cleanups. Source: Instagram/SungaiWatch
We believe that every running river (big or small) should have some type of barrier. 

Our barriers are the perfect tool to get communities and governments involved in cleaning our waterways and a great way to collect data to understand how to better improve waste management practices.
The map of the 100 SungaiWatch trash barriers so far. We believe that every running river (big or small) should have some type of barrier.

Our barriers are the perfect tool to get communities and governments involved in cleaning our waterways and a great way to collect data to understand how to better improve waste management practices. Source: Google/SungaiWatch

Wow, Indonesian ?? Sungai Watch installed 100+ river barriers, preventing 345,000kg of plastic waste from ending up in the ocean. ? SungaiWatch Source: Facebook/BrightVibes
Make an Impact

LEARN MORE ABOUT SUNGAI WATCH, WHAT THEY DO, AND HOW YOU CAN HELP

Help us install the next 1,000 Barriers and clean Indonesia! To achieve this substantial goal, we need your help! Here is how you can help us get there —