No-Trash River Project Update: Scaling Up for Cleaner Waters in North Sulawesi
Since June 2024, the No-Trash Triangle Initiative has made powerful strides with our No-Trash River Project in Manado, North Sulawesi. Designed to stop plastic waste before it reaches the ocean, the project has grown from a small pilot to a meaningful, community-rooted waste management effort, and we’re just getting started. Here’s a transparent look at what’s happened and what comes next.
Tikala River, Manado city.
River Barrier Installations: From 2 to 20
Our expansion began between March and June 2024 with the installation of 2 river barriers in southern Manado. The momentum didn’t stop there. Between July 2024 and March 2025, we installed 23 more barriers: 9 in the south and 15 in the north of the city.
But not every barrier stayed.
Due to low waste yields at some locations and concerns from local residents about water flow, 6 barriers were removed, leaving us with 20 active, community-supported barriers operating today.
This kind of flexible, feedback-driven implementation is at the heart of how we work - with rivers and with people.
Tracking Waste: Measurable Impact, Week by Week
Every week, we track the amount of waste collected at each barrier to evaluate impact and improve strategies. Our waste sorting station helps us separate, categorize, and weigh plastic and other materials. This data-driven approach allows us to see what’s working—and adapt quickly.
Community-Driven Team Growth
Since our expansion, we’ve strengthened our team in a way that aligns with our values: giving opportunity where it’s most needed.
We’ve welcomed Ibu Leila and Omin, both former landfill workers, as permanent members of our sorting station staff. In addition, several daily collection workers, many of whom also come from the landfill, support the operation of river barriers.
Importantly, all river staff are covered under government insurance, ensuring that even short-term or daily workers are protected on the job.
Support and Sustainability
Much of our project has been funded from 3RProMar, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat. They’ve been able to support us as we’ve expanded, enabling the addition of five new barriers in the last couple of months. We’re also grateful for the backing of North Sulawesi Watersport Association (NSWA), who provided funding to cover the salary of one full-time staff member for a full year. While this support is incredibly meaningful, securing ongoing operational funding, especially for collection staff salaries, remains one of our biggest challenges.
Challenges We’re Tackling
Like any grassroots initiative, we’ve faced obstacles along the way:
Community Resistance: Some barriers were removed after residents expressed concern about water flow obstruction.
Site Limitations: Not every location has the right infrastructure for a barrier (like solid anchor points or safe staff access).
Sustained Funding: Long-term financial support for operations and staffing is still a critical need.
These challenges fuel our drive to improve rather than slowing us down.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
Our vision doesn’t stop here. We’re actively:
Hiring additional full-time river staff to build a stronger, safer collection team
Exploring new barrier locations that are both technically viable and supported by local communities
Working on securing long-term funding to keep the project running and growing
We believe that local action can have global impact. With your continued support, we’re proving it, one river at a time.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
If you’d like to support the next stage of the No-Trash River Project, please consider donating or sharing our story.