Green Tech Protecting
Hong Kong's Waterways
Clean Waterways Initiative is on a mission to clean up Hong Kong’s heavily polluted waterways and raise awareness to fight plastic pollution.
The world’s oceans are in the depths of a plastic crisis
Our oceans are overflowing with plastic as global economic growth and consumer demand takes a heavy toll on our planet. One piece of plastic can take millions of years to break down, resulting in an enormous threat to the marine environment.
Plastic has found its way into every marine ecosystem on the planet, from whales choking on plastic bags to turtles entangled in abandoned fishing nets. Over time, plastic debris breaks down into small pieces of microplastics which are ingested by marine species from plankton to whales.
Without action, many marine species and habitats face extinction. Also at risk is the health of 3 billion people that rely on seafood as their main source of protein.
Plastic Entering Our Oceans Every Year
8M Tonnes
80% of ocean plastic originates from land-based sources.
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Pieces of plastic already floating in our oceans
5 Trillions +
Scientists warn that by 2050 there will be more plastic (by weight) than fish in the sea.
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Microplastics ingested per person annually
50,000 Pieces
Microplastics attract harmful toxins which enter our food chain through the food we eat.
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Hong Kong waterways are drowning in plastic
Hong Kong's beaches are awash with litter, studies showing microplastic levels as high as 5,600 pieces per square metre, 40% higher than the global average.
With landfills at capacity and a need for wider public awareness, Hong Kong’s plastic pollution problem is at crisis point.
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Plastic Bottles disposed of in Hong Kong every day
5.2M
Single-Use Plastic
discarded in Hong Kong every week
46.4M
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More than 6,000 marine species are currently living in Hong Kong’s waterways.
We are working to protect the home of thousands of local marine life.
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The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
- Robert Swan OBE
Our Mission
Established in 2019, Clean Waterways Initiative is a non-profit on a mission to collect waste from Hong Kong’s heavily polluted waterways and fight plastic pollution through increased awareness.
With our fleet of solar powered boats, our main goal is to prevent rubbish and plastic debris from making its way from the densely populated waterways of Hong Kong and into the open ocean where it will have a harmful effect on the marine ecosystems.
Solar Powered Boats
Recognising the need for more efficient trash-collecting boats in Hong Kong, we designed a vessel that can efficiently collect, sort and unload trash from our waterways. Our boats are 100% solar powered with zero emission outputs.
Solar Panels
Providing enough power to maintain the onboard battery bank during operation.
Twin Electric Outboards
Allowing the boat to spin on the spot and manoeuvre easily in tight spaces.
On-Board Sorting
Sorting deck allowing for rubbish to be divided for recycling and landfill.
Two-Stage Filtration Sytem
A primary rake collects large pieces and a secondary net catches smaller particles.
100%
Green Powered
2565 L
Capacity Per Load
GPS
Remote Monitoring
Targeting Hong Kong’s
Trash Hotspots
Aberdeen and Victoria harbours are two of the most polluted waterways in Hong Kong. Our goal is to prevent rubbish and plastic debris from leaving these waterways and entering the open ocean where it will have a harmful effect on the marine ecosystems.
Victoria Harbour
Densely populated and host to 4 typhoon shelters, Victoria Harbour sees a large amount of plastic flow out into the South China Sea. Initially, two boats will cover the area between the Central ferry piers and the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter.
Aberdeen Harbour
A dense residential and commercial population combined with a large fishing fleet contributes to the area’s high trash levels. A large amount of waste found on the south of Hong Kong and Lamma Island comes from Aberdeen.
Our Education Programme
Cleaning up our waterways will not solve the plastic pollution crisis alone - that's why educating the next generation is a key element to our mission. In partnership with Plastic Free Seas, we host educational harbour tours where students can learn about marine plastic pollution and the 4 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Reuse and Recycle.
We would love to have your school onboard. If you are interested in joining, please contact us.
Join the community
Ocean pollution needs collective action so let's all work together to keep our waterways and shorelines clean.
Get In Touch
Got a question, idea or suggestion? We'd love to hear from you!
+852 9468 2644
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