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. Clean Rivers, a global non-profit dedicated to transforming river systems, is collaborating with Project STOP to establish Indonesia’s first Regency-wide waste management system in Banyuwangi, East Java.

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. The partnership aims to enhance Indonesia’s waste management framework by promoting plastic reduction, reuse initiatives, and policy innovation, while leveraging technology and capacity-building programs.

Clean Rivers’ support significantly strengthens Project STOP’s mission to impact nearly two million people across all program locations by reducing waste leakage into rivers and oceans. This initiative aligns with Indonesia’s national waste management targets, which aim for a 70% waste handling rate and a 30% reduction at the source through the "reduce, reuse, recycle" approach. The program also ensures that every Indonesian family has access to circular waste management services.

The partnership follows the September 2023 inauguration of a large-scale Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), with a second MRF planned for 2025. Clean Rivers' funding will help Project STOP expand its services, providing up to 850,000 people with improved waste management infrastructure and creating up to 1,000 full-time jobs. This investment contributes to environmental sustainability and community well-being while establishing a replicable model for future waste management projects across Indonesia.

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.

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.”

By pioneering Indonesia’s first Regency-wide circular waste management system, Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau sets a benchmark for sustainable waste solutions nationwide.