USAID successfully completed its Clean Cities, Blue Ocean programme in partnership with Prevented Ocean Plastic™ earlier this month.
Prevented Ocean Plastic™ Southeast Asia joined Clean Cities Blue Ocean in July 2022. The initiative was the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) global flagship programme to address ocean plastic pollution in what they call rapidly urbanising areas. Since the programme was launched in Indonesia in June 2021, USAID and its partners have safely managed more than 17,900 metric tons of municipal waste, preventing over 7,680 metric tons of plastic (the equivalent of over half a billion bottles) from leaking into the environment.
Our partnership directly led to the opening of a collection centre in the port city of Semarang. This ‘aggregation’ centre- a bigger space than a collection centre- was the first significant collection and recycling centre in the region. It created over 40 direct jobs and has the capacity to collect 500 tonnes per month of high quality plastic raw materials for recycling. The centre is helping to address the growing volumes of waste in Semarang, home to over 6 million people, and expand recycling infrastructure in the region.
Clare Romanik, USAID’s Lead Ocean Plastics and Urban Advisor, said,“USAID is proud to partner with Prevented Ocean Plastic™ Southeast Asia to build an inclusive circular economy across Indonesia. This partnership demonstrates the power of blended finance as a model to scale solutions to the plastic crisis.”
Speaking at the USAID CCBO Closing Ceremony on April 17th, USAID Mission Director Jeff Cohen noted that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of relations between the United States and Indonesia, as he celebrated the remarkable results of the bilateral partnership. “The collaboration between the United States, through USAID, with the Government of Indonesia and the cities of Semarang, Makassar, and Ambon to strengthen waste management is making Indonesian cities more livable, reducing plastic pollution in Indonesia’s seas, and helping safeguard Indonesia’s natural beauty for future generations,” said Cohen.
The ceremony, held at the Gumaya Hotel Semarang, was also attended by Prevented Ocean Plastic™ Southeast Asia Director Daniel Lawrence. In his words, “We are dedicated to fighting plastic pollution and improving the welfare of local communities. Through extensive training and support, stakeholders and waste facilities are equipped to increase operational efficiency.”
Prevented Ocean Plastic™ will always be so proud of our collaboration with USAID and the Clean Cities, Blue Ocean initiative. The impact our partnership will be felt for years to come.
About PREVENTED OCEAN PLASTIC™:
Prevented Ocean Plastic™ is high quality, certified recycled plastic that has been collected from coastal areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution. Used by supermarkets and brands around the world, it meets regulatory health and safety standards, is traceable back to source and can be identified on-pack through its distinctive triangular logo. Prevented Ocean Plastic™ was an official nominee for the 2023 Earthshot Prize, and counts Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Booths Supermarket as key partners, along with major manufacturing partners such as Groupe Guillin, Spectra Packaging, and Berry Global for offerings across multiple product categories, including fish, poultry, soft fruits, pet food, personal care, and home cleaning.
