Puerto Barrios, Guatemala — At RiverImpact, we are thrilled to share a significant milestone in our mission to protect aquatic ecosystems. We have successfully installed a 150-meter-long barrier in the Motagua River, one of the most polluted rivers in South America. This achievement marks a crucial step forward in our fight against plastic pollution and demonstrates the positive impact we can achieve through innovative and sustainable solutions.
Over the past three months, we have worked diligently to design and install this barrier, along with its anchors, just in time for Guatemala’s rainy season. This period is particularly critical, as flash floods carry thousands of tonnes of plastic waste through the river into the ocean. We know that 80% of ocean-bound plastic is transported during this time of year.
Simple and Effective Technology
Our barrier is designed to be affordable, simple, and most importantly, effective. On the first day of operation, we successfully intercepted 500 cubic meters of plastic, equivalent to 50 truckloads of waste. This achievement highlights the capability of our technology to effectively prevent plastic from entering the ocean, even under extreme weather conditions.
From Collection to Recycling
Once the plastic is captured by the barrier, we transport it to our sorting area, where a team of experienced waste collectors classifies and separates the materials. Plastics like PET will be sold to recyclers, while others, such as Styrofoam, will be responsibly incinerated. We are also setting aside plastics like HDPE and LDPE to be processed at our own recycling plant, which we plan to have operational by the end of this year.
By recycling the plastic we intercept, we not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also generate the necessary revenue to sustain and expand our projects.
Collaboration and Community Support
This success would not have been possible without the support of our valuable partners: Deltares, Fundaeco, the Institute of Climate Change, and the Municipality of Puerto Barrios. Their collaboration has been essential in making this initiative a reality.
We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the world’s rivers and oceans, and this achievement in the Motagua River is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more exciting news coming soon!
Simple and Effective Technology
Our barrier is designed to be affordable, simple, and most importantly, effective. On the first day of operation, we successfully intercepted 500 cubic meters of plastic, equivalent to 50 truckloads of waste. This achievement highlights the capability of our technology to effectively prevent plastic from entering the ocean, even under extreme weather conditions.
From Collection to Recycling
Once the plastic is captured by the barrier, we transport it to our sorting area, where a team of experienced waste collectors classifies and separates the materials. Plastics like PET will be sold to recyclers, while others, such as Styrofoam, will be responsibly incinerated. We are also setting aside plastics like HDPE and LDPE to be processed at our own recycling plant, which we plan to have operational by the end of this year.
By recycling the plastic we intercept, we not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also generate the necessary revenue to sustain and expand our projects.
Collaboration and Community Support
This success would not have been possible without the support of our valuable partners: Deltares, Fundaeco, the Institute of Climate Change, and the Municipality of Puerto Barrios. Their collaboration has been essential in making this initiative a reality.
We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the world’s rivers and oceans, and this achievement in the Motagua River is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more exciting news coming soon!
