Citizens and local communities witnessed the plastic problem in their rivers and took matters into their own hands. Through their perseverance and outreach, they helped install a Bubble Barrier to clean their river. Let’s discover more about these local heroes!
Author: Judith de Waard
Bubble Barrier Katwijk
Katwijk, Netherlands
The citizens of Katwijk, a coastal city in the Netherlands, have taken a stand against plastic pollution in their rivers. Foundation Coast Busters spearheaded the installation of a Bubble Barrier in their river. Bubble Barrier Katwijk was installed in the summer of 2022 and has been operational since. Coast Busters currently monitors the plastic collected by Bubble Barrier Katwijk.
The journey to install the Bubble Barrier in Katwijk began with a group of dedicated citizens who regularly conducted beach and river clean-ups in their city. Recognising the need for a long-term solution to tackle plastic pollution, they formed the Coast Busters Foundation in 2018 intending to install a Bubble Barrier in the Oude Rijn River.
According to Claar-els van Delft, Chairwoman of Coast Busters, “A large part of the plastic pollution in oceans comes from rivers, especially the smaller microplastics, which are the most polluting and dangerous. Plastic pollution is not just a governmental problem, but a problem for all of us.”
After years of persistent efforts, including meetings with local governmental organisations and crowdfunding initiatives, Bubble Barrier Katwijk became a reality.
To Coast Busters, the Bubble Barrier represents more than just a means to clean up plastic. As Claar-els van Delft explains, “We want to create a different mindset. We want to establish a visitors’ centre and implement school education programmes. The Bubble Barrier is not just a clean-up solution, but a way to engage citizens, tourists, policymakers, and foreign delegations.”
Monitoring the waste collected by Bubble Barrier Katwijk plays a prominent role in this mission. By using the OSPAR method for monitoring the waste, we gain insights regarding plastic pollution levels, trends, and origins. Some of the most interesting collected waste from this river is showcased near the Bubble Barrier, where Coast Busters hosts guided tours to learn more about the initiative.
Want to lend Coast Busters a hand? Join one of their monitoring sessions.
Bubble Barrier Harlingen
Harlingen, Netherlands
In a coastal city in the north of the Netherlands, Harlingen, a concerned citizen has been tirelessly cleaning the city’s shores to draw attention to the plastic pollution issue. As a result of Henk Prins’ efforts, we installed Bubble Barrier Harlingen in the spring of 2024, with support from various governmental institutions and organisations.
Henk Prins emphasises, “We all have a plastic problem. Our canals, harbours, and beaches show us what’s wrong. Once I heard of The Great Bubble Barrier’s technology, I asked my municipality if we could implement this in our river. Now, the Bubble Barrier is installed here, in the city of Harlingen.” The system prevents plastic pollution from flowing into the unique UNESCO-protected Wadden Sea.
The project shows an example of the power of collaboration between residents and governmental institutions working together to protect their environment. Various organisations, including Gemeente Harlingen, Provincie Fryslân, Rijkswaterstaat, Port of Harlingen, Gemeente Leeuwarden and Gemeente Waadhoeke, joined forces to implement the Bubble Barrier in Harlingen, with support from the Waddenfonds.
Hendrik Sijtsma from Gemeente Harlingen highlights the project’s significance: “Harlingen is the only harbour city in the Province of Friesland, with many waterways leading to the sea. It makes catching plastic in this location extra important. Above all, this project proves that something can start small but become as big as implementing a Bubble Barrier in your city.”
The project is nearing full operation, after which a monitoring programme will take place to analyse the debris caught by Bubble Barrier Harlingen.
How To Get Your River Cleaned With a Bubble Barrier
These inspiring initiatives demonstrate the impact of local communities taking a proactive approach to address plastic pollution. We have developed a Citizen Initiative Toolkit to support other communities in similar efforts. Together, we can make a difference in creating cleaner and healthier waterways for all.
Want to initiate a project to clean your river?
Request the Citizen Initiative Toolkit
