🚯 Over 25 million kilograms of trash removed from oceans and waterways in 2025

🚯 Over 25 million kilograms of trash removed from oceans and waterways in 2025

The organization's total amount of collected trash has now surpassed 45 million kilograms. A new program, the 30 Cities Program, will tackle a third of all plastic waste reaching the oceans from the world's most polluted urban areas.

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  • The Ocean Cleanup collected over 25 million kilograms of trash from aquatic environments in 2025, setting a new record.
  • The organization's total amount of collected trash has now surpassed 45 million kilograms.
  • A new program, the 30 Cities Program, will tackle a third of all plastic waste reaching the oceans from the world's most polluted urban areas.

New record for collection

In 2025, The Ocean Cleanup collected over 25 million kilograms of trash from oceans, rivers, and near-shore environments. It is the organization's largest annual result to date. In total, the organization has now removed over 45 million kilograms of trash since its inception.

The result is a consequence of several years of research, data-driven decision-making, and locally adapted solutions. During the year, a particular focus was placed on optimizing processes and ensuring the organization's ocean and river technologies operate as efficiently as possible.

A comprehensive strategy against plastic pollution

The organization's goal is to remove 90 percent of all floating plastic from the oceans by 2040. Reaching that goal requires a comprehensive solution combining several methods. This includes removing existing plastic from the ocean, intercepting plastic waste in rivers before it reaches the ocean, conducting coastal sweeps in near-shore environments, and using marine pollution research to inform international policy.

The research continues to set new standards in the field. The organization also involves citizens who want to participate in what is described as the world's largest cleanup, an effort that is growing in scale.

New program targets 30 cities

At the United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice during the year, The Ocean Cleanup announced the next step toward its goal: the 30 Cities Program. The program will tackle up to a third of all plastic pollution reaching the oceans from some of the world's most polluted urban areas.

Local waste management in focus

The work on efficient and responsible solutions also extends to waste management. The organization collaborates with local authorities, partners, and communities in the countries where it operates to create long-lasting impact.

One example is Malaysia, where the organization together with a local partner has inaugurated a new sorting facility on the banks of the Klang river. There, trash is intercepted and sorted immediately on site.

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