In 2024, we partnered with Plastic Fischer to launch the Heartfeldt River Clean-up in Kanpur, India. Our goal: remove 5,000 kg of river plastic before it could reach the ocean. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we successfully reached this target - making a real difference for rivers, communities, and marine life.
Every year, an estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean, with rivers acting as highways that carry waste from inland to sea. Studies show that just 1,000 rivers are responsible for 80% of this leakage. In cities like Kanpur, where waste systems are overburdened, rivers become major pollution pathways - endangering animals, ecosystems, and human health.
Plastic Fischer tackles this challenge with a low-cost, low-tech, locally built solution: floating barriers, known as Trashbooms, that capture plastic floating within the top 50 cm of the water. This passive system allows fish and other wildlife to pass underneath unharmed while plastic is collected, dried, sorted, and either recycled or disposed of responsibly.
The impact went beyond the environment. The clean-up team was made up entirely of local residents, who received stable, full-time jobs with fair wages and private health insurance - rare in the waste management sector.
Meanwhile, the Heartfeldt Foundation mobilized global awareness through educational campaigns, petitions for stronger plastic regulations, and a downloadable guide with 30 tips to reduce plastic use.
Together with our donors and partners, we achieved:
This project proved that intercepting river plastic is one of the most effective ways to stop ocean pollution at its source. By combining community empowerment with global advocacy, the Heartfeldt River Clean-up not only reduced plastic waste but also built momentum for systemic change - towards a future with no plastic in nature.
This project aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Heartfeldt River Clean-up has now come to a successful close. While the project has ended, its legacy continues through cleaner rivers, empowered communities, and a global movement pushing for a world free from plastic pollution.
(Stichting) Heartfeldt Foundation
Jacob van Lennepkade 155 H
1054ZL, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
RSIN: 859114624
COC: 72454784
info@heartfeldt.org
ANBI Certified Non-Profit
© 2025 Heartfeldt Foundation
