April 30, 2026 · Global environmental nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup is set to deploy its first plastic Interceptor barrier in the Manila Bay region in June 2026, as part of its global 30 Cities Program.
The 30 Cities Program is an initiative by The Ocean Cleanup that aims to reduce river-borne plastic pollution by up to one-third by 2030, by targeting 30 of the most polluting coastal cities in the world.
Manila has been identified as one of 30 cities that contribute the highest ocean plastic pollution—along with Mumbai (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), Montego Bay (Jamaica), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Panama City (Panama), Bangkok (Thailand), and Los Angeles (United States). Regional estimates show that between 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes of plastic waste enter into the ocean every year from The Philippines alone.
In partnership with the local government of Meycauayan, the Ocean Cleanup will be installing a new Interceptor barrier along the river—replacing existing trash traps and enhancing plastic interception capacity before it can even spill out to sea.
The Meycauyan River is a 5-km river that stretches through the cities of Bulacan and Northern Metro Manila and drains directly into Manila Bay. A major channel for industrial and residential runoff, it carries an estimated 370 to 540 tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean.
“This milestone brings us one step closer to building tangible solutions toward cleaner rivers and healthier communities in the Manila Bay region,” said Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO, The Ocean Cleanup.
“We are excited to collaborate with the City of Meycauayan on this first deployment in the Philippines, where commitment and leadership play a vital role in mitigating ocean-bound plastic waste pollution.”
Studies have shown that rivers are a major source of plastic waste in the oceans. According to research done by The Ocean Cleanup, more than 1,000 rivers worldwide account for 80% of ocean plastic pollution.
This is where their Interceptor solutions come in; by deploying barriers in the world’s most polluted rivers and working within local waste systems, they can stop plastic from traveling further into the ocean, and harvest them for other use.
As of May 2025, The Ocean Cleanup has deployed 20 Interceptors in 9 countries across Southeast Asia, The Caribbean, and The Americas.
