Nearly 94 tonnes of waste were intercepted before reaching the Atlantic Ocean through a partnership between the City of Cape Town and The Litterboom Project.
Between March and June 2026, three litterbooms in the Black River system prevented 93 963kg of waste from entering the ocean. Eight full-time river wardens monitored and maintained the waste interceptors daily while carrying out clean-up operations across four priority waterways.
The initiative forms part of the City of Cape Town’s partnership with environmental non-profit organisation The Litterboom Project (TLP), which focuses on stopping pollution at source before it reaches rivers and the ocean.
Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, said the results demonstrate the value of combining environmental protection with community-based solutions.
“Intercepting nearly 94 tonnes of waste before it reaches the ocean shows the undeniable power of our partnerships on the ground. Interceptors and dedicated river wardens are essential, but to protect our catchments for the long term, we must run a dual-track strategy,” said Badroodien.
He added that alongside infrastructure investments, the City is expanding urban waste management initiatives, including waste-for-goods swop shops and efforts to strengthen the recycling economy, creating environmental benefits while generating economic opportunities for residents.
The City’s grant restored full-time operations at the Jakkelsvlei, Bloemvlei Canal and Vygieskraal Canal litterboom sites while establishing full-time waste interception at the Bokmakierie Canal.
Recovered recyclable materials were diverted from landfill and incorporated into new products through The Litterboom Project’s circular economy programme. The initiative also supported eight local employment opportunities, delivering both environmental and socio-economic benefits.
The Litterboom Project CEO Cameron Service welcomed the collaboration, saying it demonstrates how partnerships can achieve meaningful environmental outcomes.
“We are proud of the collaboration between the City of Cape Town and The Litterboom Project. The ongoing, consistent efforts of our teams working together across multiple departments has shown a willingness from the City for strategic partnerships with high-impact organisations,” said Service.
He added that the project highlights Cape Town’s commitment to practical, collaborative solutions and expressed hope that similar initiatives could be expanded across South Africa to protect rivers and oceans.
