The City of Cape Town has joined forces with The Litterboom Project to help create local jobs while removing over 23 tonnes of waste from the city’s rivers and canals.
Cape Town, South Africa (12 September 2025) – It is said that many hands make light work, and in the case of keeping Cape Town’s waterways clean, many hands are working hard on the ground to ensure rivers flow as nature intended.
Through the City’s grant funding, The Litterboom Project has installed eight new litterbooms across the metro and employed 12 local river wardens to maintain them.
These simple yet effective barriers intercept litter before it can flow downstream into the ocean, while also creating work opportunities in surrounding communities.
The result so far? More than 23 tonnes of waste have been removed from Cape Town’s rivers and canals since May 2025!
Thanks to this partnership, The Litterboom Project has expanded its operations by creating a circular economy, which takes plastic pollution in rivers, sorts it and converts it into raw material for the production of useful items that can be reused or sold.
At their Innovation Hub, another team manages the waste sorting and cleansing facility, where recyclable plastic is transformed into commodities and everyday household items. The proceeds are then reinvested into initiatives keeping waterways clean and sustaining local reclaimers.
New litterbooms were installed at the Big Lotus in Manenberg, the Big Lotus in Ottery, the Black River in Athlone, as well as in Bloemvlei Canal and Vygieskraal.
The Litterboom Project’s CEO, Cameron Service, said that he believes this initiative will establish a crucial framework enabling non-profit organisations to play a meaningful role in addressing environmental waste challenges, in collaboration with municipalities nationwide.
“There are many organisations doing tremendous work on the ground, and it is refreshing to see financial support coming directly from the municipality, to address the growing pollution problem and recognise the work being done by organisations like The Litterboom Project,” said Cameron Service, CEO of The Litterboom Project.
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All the Wins From CapeNature's 2026 State of Conservation Report!With so many hands involved in such a powerful movement, there is hope for litter-free waterways in the Mother City.
Sources: City of Cape Town
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