Discover how Martin Alvsvåg and his team are tackling plastic pollution at its source, one river at a time. Through innovative solutions like The River Cleaner and a global focus on collaboration, Rivers.Global is proving that impactful change starts with local action.
The Story Behind The River Cleaner
How did the idea for The River Cleaner come about, and what inspired you to create a product that is durable, affordable, and open for anyone to replicate?
Since the founding of Rivers.Global in 2018, our board has been dedicated to stopping plastic waste before it reaches the ocean. Rivers are the main transporters of plastic into the seas, and we wanted to create a collection system specifically for rivers, as intercepting plastic early in its journey is much more effective.
The collection system was designed to be built locally using materials that are readily available anywhere. We initially chose to focus on Asia, where the problem of plastic waste entering the oceans is most severe. Building locally not only fosters ownership but also ensures better sustainability compared to using equipment manufactured in Europe, Australia, or the United States. Plus, it avoids the high costs and emissions associated with shipping equipment internationally.
We aimed to make the system affordable yet durable enough to withstand harsh weather conditions. The collector was designed to be anchored to one side of the riverbank, ensuring easy passage for boat traffic. After SINTEF Ocean in Trondheim reviewed our plans, they encouraged us to build a prototype and test it in a real river environment.
The initial plan was to build a prototype in Vietnam, where we already had an established network. However, when the pandemic hit, we decided to build it in Norway instead – specifically in Bømlo, where the engineer behind The River Cleaner resides.
The River Cleaner uses the natural flow of the river to guide plastic and other debris into a large net. No solar panels, no diesel generators – the energy needed is already in the river. Once the net is full, it is emptied for sorting, recycling, and proper waste management.
After installation and testing in the Etne River under both high and low flow conditions, the collector was brought ashore. It proved to be highly effective – watch a short video here:
As we are committed to always building collectors locally, this prototype will not be sent abroad. However, we are considering installing it in another river in Norway, where school classes and other interested groups can visit and see it in action.
The Open Source Philosophy
Many companies would have considered patenting something as innovative as The River Cleaner. Why did you choose to go in the opposite direction and make it patent-free?
It’s not entirely uncommon to make such devices patent-free. After all, you can’t patent the natural flow of a river! The one feature we could potentially have patented is a release mechanism that prevents the collector from being swept out to sea during extreme weather. However, we didn’t want to spend time and money on patents because our main goal is to see as many collectors as possible in operation in heavily polluted rivers as quickly as possible.
We’ve also kept the design flexible. We’ve shared one way to build it, but it can be adapted with different materials and dimensions. For instance, an organization we spoke with in the Philippines mentioned they’d likely build the frame from bamboo instead of aluminum.
If you had to give The River Cleaner a tagline, what would it be?
Hmm, perhaps: “The River Cleaner – stops plastics from entering the ocean.”
Collaboration and Mission
Rivers.Global focuses on collaboration over competition. Can you share a story about a particularly memorable partnership or an unexpected alliance that has been central to your mission?
Since 2019, we’ve supported a project in Vietnam called “Fighting Plastics in the Mekong.” This initiative works with schools, women’s groups, neighborhood associations, and local authorities to promote awareness and educate communities about the importance of protecting nature.
Initially, we planned to expand our focus to the Philippines and visited several potential partner organizations in 2021. Unfortunately, none of those visits resulted in agreements.
Then, almost out of nowhere in 2023, we received recommendations for two new organizations – one in Cambodia and another in Nepal. Both are actively involved in environmental education and local cleanup efforts.
Most recently, we signed a partnership with an organization in the Philippines, bringing the total number of projects we support to four across four countries. Each project receives approximately 50,000 NOK annually.
These collaborations are a testament to the power of global partnerships in achieving our shared mission.
If you could choose anyone, dead or alive, to be an ambassador for The River Cleaner, who would it be and why?
Princess Ingrid Alexandra seems to have a genuine love for the ocean, so she would be an incredible ambassador😊.
Aha Moments on the Startup Journey
As part of our Blu Startups series, we’re focused on how startups push boundaries. What have been some “aha” moments in Rivers.Global’s journey that other entrepreneurs can learn from?
We’ve received several small contributions from individuals, schools, municipalities, and companies, but none large enough to allow us to hire staff. However, we’ve realized that it’s possible to run an organization without employees, as long as you have a highly dedicated board and a chairperson with an exceptionally flexible employer.
Another key realization is that we can support other organizations in countries facing major challenges with plastic waste, without waiting for The River Cleaner to be locally built, for example, in Vietnam.
Future Projects and Expansion
Rivers.Global has already made an impact with The River Cleaner. Are there other ideas or concepts you’re considering developing?
Our dream is to see local organizations build their own collectors in South and Central America, Africa, and Asia. Additionally, we want to support worthwhile projects working towards cleaner local environments and oceans.
Are there any new tools or resources you’re excited to share?
Not yet, but we believe in continuous improvements to The River Cleaner as we gain more experience with building, installation, and emptying the system.
Dream Collaborations
Are there any organizations, countries, or communities you dream of collaborating with to strengthen Rivers.Global’s efforts?
Plastic Fischer, a German organization, has a very similar approach to ours. You can read about them here: https://plasticfischer.com/
Staying Creative with Purpose
How do you keep the creative process engaging when working on such a serious issue as plastic pollution?
Seeing large marine animals with stomachs full of plastic or seabirds and fish mistaking plastic for food and slowly dying is a constant reminder of why our work needs to intensify in the years ahead.
If You Could Choose One River…
If you could send The River Cleaner to one river anywhere in the world right now, where would it be, and what would you hope to achieve?
As mentioned, we have no plans to send The River Cleaner from Norway to countries struggling with plastic pollution in their rivers. Instead, we aim to encourage and inspire local organizations and governments to build their own collectors.
Dream locations to see collectors installed would be the Saigon River in Vietnam and the Pasig River in the Philippines.
Martin Alvsvåg
Chairman, Rivers.Global
Fredrikstad, December 13, 2024
📞 +47 414 93 111
