On the 27th of January, we held the official opening ceremony for our floating waste barrier in Buckingham Canal, Chennai.
The day brought together local communities, academic institutions, authorities, and international partners for a shared conversation on plastic pollution, prevention, and practical, locally anchored solutions.
Following a welcome from Kabadiwalla Connect, a series of presentations highlighted different perspectives on the challenge of plastic pollution. Representatives from the Rotary Club of Madras spoke about awareness-building initiatives among school students, while the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) shared insights on plastic pollution in water bodies and related prevention challenges. Low-cost and sustainable engineering solutions were presented by Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and the importance of community-led action was highlighted by a representative from the local Mandaveli RWA.
Ocean Plastic Forum’s Thomas Alstrup presented the objectives of the From Beach to Big Bag (FBBB) project and its wider societal impact, emphasising the importance of collaboration across sectors and local value chains.
The ceremony concluded with the official inauguration of the barrier, marked by a symbolic flower-floating ceremony in the canal. Guests were then invited to see a live demonstration of how the barrier will be emptied by local waste pickers and how the collected material will be transported onward to nearby scrap shops for further handling.
We’re very impressed by the level of engagement the project has already created locally, and we’re excited to follow the barrier in action over the coming months!
