Project STOP, Banyuwangi Regency and partners surpass 100,000 metric 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.

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.

Stefan Doboczky, CEO of Borealis, says: “Surpassing 100,000 metric tons of waste collected is an important milestone for Project STOP and a testament to what long-term partnership and local leadership by Banyuwangi Regency can accomplish. By expanding access to waste management services for hundreds of thousands of people, strengthening local capacities, and advancing critical infrastructure, Project STOP continues to demonstrate how circular solutions can be delivered at scale and these efforts are an integral part of Borealis’ strategy.”

“Reaching this milestone shows that circular waste systems can move beyond pilots and become embedded in local institutions,” says Widharmika Agung, Partner and Head of Indonesia office at Systemiq. “What we are seeing in Banyuwangi is the strengthening of governance, operational capability and infrastructure working together as one system. That systems-level integration is what enables long-term impact at scale.”

“We are proud to be working alongside committed partners to build integrated systems that expand communities’ access to waste services,” said Deborah Backus, CEO of Clean Rivers, a UAE-backed foundation tackling global challenges at the intersection of waste and water. “Every ton of waste collected is waste that was not openly burned, dumped or left to leak into soils and waterways – reducing the burdens that mismanaged waste places on lives, livelihoods and the environment.”

December 2025 Impact since inception in 2017

Population with access to waste collection 772,485 Number of full-time equivalent jobs created 276 Metric tons of waste collected 100,961 Metric tons of environmental leakage stopped 82,942 Metric tons of plastic collected 14,504 Metric tons of plastic leakage stopped 12,053

About Project STOP
Project STOP (STop Ocean Plastics), launched in 2017 by Borealis and Systemiq, is a pioneering program that provides access to effective circular waste management systems at scale in Southeast Asia. Collaborating with public and private sector partners, the initiative builds waste management infrastructure and deploys technical expertise to achieve zero waste leakage, increase recycling, build economically sustainable programs, create new jobs and reduce the harmful impacts of mismanaged and openly burnt waste on public health and the environment. The first city partnership was established in 2017 in the city of Muncar, East Java, followed by others in Pasuruan, East Java, and Jembrana, Bali. Following the successful handover of all three Project STOP city partnerships to the local regency governments, Project STOP’s focus is now on providing a Regency-wide circular waste management system in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java (Project STOP Banyuwangi Hijau) further enabled by Borealis and Project STOP’s scale-up partner and funder Clean Rivers.

For more information on Project STOP visit www.stopoceanplastics.com

About Borealis 
Borealis is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and sustainable polyolefin solutions. In Europe, Borealis is also an innovative leader in polyolefins recycling and a major producer of base chemicals. We leverage our polymer expertise and decades of experience to offer value-adding, innovative and circular material solutions for key industries such as consumer products, energy, healthcare, infrastructure and mobility.

With customers in over 120 countries and head office in Vienna, Austria, Borealis employs around 6,200 people. In 2024, we generated a net profit of EUR 566 million. OMV, the sustainable chemicals, fuels and energy company with a focus on circular economy solutions, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, owns 75% of our shares. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), owns the remaining 25%.

In re-inventing essentials for sustainable living, we build on our commitment to safety, our people, innovation and technology, and performance excellence. We are accelerating the transformation to a circular economy of polyolefins and expanding our geographical footprint to better serve our customers around the globe. Our operations are augmented by two important joint ventures: Borouge (with ADNOC, headquartered in the UAE); and Baystar™ (with TotalEnergies, based in the US).

www.borealisgroup.com: www.borealiseverminds.com