Officiated by the Mayor of Klang, the facility marks a milestone in reducing river pollution and boosting recycling efforts in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – 2 JULY 2025 – The Ocean Cleanup, together with its partners Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB), J&K Wonderland Foundation, and Coca-Cola Malaysia, officially unveiled a new waste sorting facility on the Klang River today, marking a milestone in efforts to help divert collected marine waste from landfill and promote circular solutions.
The waste sorting facility was officiated by YBhg. Dato’ Haji Abd. Hamid Hussain, Mayor of Klang Royal City Council (MBDK), and witnessed by YBhg. Datuk Dr. Ching Thoo, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), in recognition of its contribution to strengthening local waste management and environmental sustainability efforts.
The facility will sort and process waste collected by The Ocean Cleanup’s technology, including Interceptor 002, which operates using solar power, and a log boom (barrier) system. These systems are designed to intercept debris in the river before it reaches the ocean.
With financial support from Coca-Cola Malaysia and J&K Wonderland Foundation, as well as implementation leadership from LLSB, the facility aims to maximise recycling outcomes and create local livelihood opportunities. A team of full-time workers is stationed at the site to sort waste by hand – separating recyclables such as plastic and aluminium from organic and non-recyclable waste. This sorting process aims to contribute to more sustainable and efficient waste management practices.
This public-private collaboration brings together local government agencies, private sector leaders, and the non-profit organisation The Ocean Cleanup, and is a key part of the broader Klang River cleanup programme.
Speaking at the opening event, Marco Piët, Rivers Director at The Ocean Cleanup, said: “Working in collaboration with our partners, this new waste sorting facility will help improve the waste management of the trash we are preventing from entering the ocean as we continue in our mission to eliminate 90 percent of floating ocean plastic pollution.”
He also shared plans to increase the number of Interceptors in Kuala Lumpur, and highlighted the organisation’s 30 Cities Program – an initiative to scale The Ocean Cleanup’s proven Interceptor solutions across 30 key cities in Asia and the Americas, with the goal of eliminating up to one-third of all plastic flowing from the world’s rivers into the ocean by the end of the decade.
Syaiful Azmen Nordin, Managing Director at Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd, remarked: “The health of the Klang River is a shared responsibility – critical to our local communities and the environment. This sorting facility demonstrates what’s possible when multiple stakeholders come together with a common goal. Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd remains committed to the river’s rejuvenation, and this joint initiative is an important boost to our broader waste management efforts.”
Amanda Lin, Senior Director – Franchise Operations, The Coca-Cola Company – Singapore, Malaysia & Brunei, said: “This work on the Klang River is part of our broader partnership with The Ocean Cleanup in Southeast Asia to help prevent plastic waste from flowing into the ocean. We’re also supporting deployments in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia – with our teams on the ground helping The Ocean Cleanup scale their solutions.”
To date, The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptors 002 and 005 have collectively removed nearly 3,000 tonnes of waste from the Klang River as it flows through Kuala Lumpur’s industrial zones. This facility strengthens the impact of the larger cleanup programme, which aims to reduce plastic pollution and restore ecological balance to one of Malaysia’s most vital rivers.
