Project STOP, Banyuwangi Regency and partners surpass 100,000 tons of waste collected in 2025, paving the way for further growth in 2026
- Indonesia’s first regency-wide circular waste management system in Banyuwangi continues to scale in partnership with Banyuwangi Regency, with the vital support of the Indonesian Government
- Since inception, over 100,000 metric tons of waste have been collected through Project STOP and 276 full-time-equivalent jobs created
- 2026 will see further expansion, including the completion of a second material recovery facility and the start of the construction of two material transfer stations
Project STOP, co-founded by Borealis and Systemiq, together with scale-up partner Clean Rivers and in partnership with Banyuwangi Regency and with the vital support of the Indonesian Government, has reached a significant milestone in advancing circular waste management in Southeast Asia.
In 2025, the program expanded access to affordable, end-to-end waste management services to 772,485 people – an increase of more than 200,000 compared to 2024 – across all Project STOP cities, with a strong focus on establishing Indonesia’s first regency-wide circular waste management system in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java.
A Project STOP waste collector conducts household waste collection in a residential neighborhood in Banyuwangi Regency. Picture credit: Project STOP
Since 2017, waste management systems supported through Project STOP have collected 100,961 metric tons of waste – equivalent to nearly 200,000 local waste collection tricycle loads. This represents waste collected through these systems, most of which might otherwise have been openly dumped or burned. This milestone reflects the strength of long-term partnership and sustained community engagement. The program has also created 276 full-time-equivalent jobs, strengthening local economies and building capacity for lasting change.
Community engagement remains at the heart of Project STOP. In 2025, with the support of Banyuwangi Regency’s leadership, the program worked closely with village leaders, facilitators, and local influencers, leveraging community meetings and door-to-door outreach. These intensified behavior change efforts have improved household participation rates, which are still below the program’s ambition. Banyuwangi Regency’s efforts have been recognized nationally, ranking second in Indonesia for community-based total sanitation (STBM) and receiving the Swasti Saba Healthy District Award.
A highlight of the year was the transformation of recycled polypropylene from Project STOP’s collected plastic waste into Wild Pots, a new circular product showcased at the K 2025 trade fair. This collaboration between Borealis, Borouge, PT Pelita Mekar Semesta, WILDPLASTIC®, and WITTMANN demonstrates how innovation across the value chain can turn collected plastic waste into high-value products.
Looking ahead, 2026 will be a year of further growth. Project STOP will continue to expand waste collection services to additional villages in Banyuwangi Regency, commission a second material recovery facility in Karetan, and begin construction of two material transfer stations. Once operational, these facilities are expected to handle up to 260 metric tons of waste per day – a critical step toward enabling access to waste services across the Regency for up to 2 million people.
