Urban plastic soup

Amsterdam is bustling – with energy, creativity, and… unfortunately, also with plastic waste. But there’s a better way! With smart technology, innovative solutions, and a healthy dose of collaboration, this project is tackling plastic pollution at its source. This way, the canals, streets, and parks are made cleaner and plastic is given a second life. 

The project goal 

Plastic in streets, canals, and parks isn’t just an eyesore – it also poses a threat to nature, water quality, and livability. In Amsterdam, a broad consortium is working on an innovative approach to structurally reduce this pollution and give value to what is currently considered waste. 

Urban plastic pollution is a persistent problem. Until now, there was no reliable, scientifically validated system to measure exactly how much plastic litters the city and ends up in the water system. Without good data, it’s difficult to determine which solutions truly work. Furthermore, there are opportunities for high-quality reuse of collected plastic, but a solid business case is often lacking. 

This project addresses these challenges by: 

• Developing a monitoring system that measures objectively and reproducibly. 

• Testing and optimizing solutions, such as innovative collection systems. 

• Investigating how collected plastic can be recycled into new products. 

Innovative solutions in action 

In the second project phase, the five most common plastic objects in Amsterdam’s water system will be investigated. These include bottles, bags, and packaging materials. The social costs and benefits of cleaning up and reusing these streams will also be examined. 

Three innovative collection systems are also central to the tests: 

• The Great Bubble Barrier – a bubble screen that floats plastic to the shore. 

• CanalCleaner – a floating system that collects floating waste. 

• Shoreliner – a safety net for floating waste in harbors and canals. 

Baseline measurements, field trials, and workshops with stakeholders were used to identify the most effective combination of prevention, collection, and policy. 

More information 

Vist urbanplasticsoup.com to learn more

Executive project partners 

– Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan Solutions (AMS)
– Gemeente Amsterdam
– Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
– The Great Bubble Barrier (TGBB)
– Noria – Sustainable Innovators
– TAUW