Challenge

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Across many regions, growing consumption and rapid urban development have outpaced the capacity of existing waste management systems. Landfills are reaching capacity, and much of the waste—especially plastic—is not properly sorted, treated, or recycled. Without adequate infrastructure and resources, significant volumes of waste end up in rivers and oceans, threatening ecosystems, public health, and local livelihoods.

An estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean each year. This equates to roughly 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic, with 269,000 tons floating on the surface and 4 billion microfibers per square kilometer below. A significant portion, around 70%, sinks to the ocean floor, while 15% floats and another 15% washes ashore

Laut Bahru aims to support and complement ongoing efforts to prevent waste from entering the environment, by developing practical, community-driven solutions that improve waste collection, and processing.