They are active in ten rivers around South Africa, and have been instrumental in keeping 500,000 kg of plastic out of those waters. TLP works on three core principles – interception, education and innovation. The first involves stopping pollution at source and restoring ecosystems back to their natural state. They work together with reclaimers, ‘the backbone of recycling in South Africa’, and create economic opportunities for people living in informal settlements. Their second focus involves not just educating the public – especially youth – but also providing infrastructure to help people act on what they learn and make tangible changes. And finally, TLP works to create jobs and build a circular economy through innovation, as through their ‘Wastepreneur Programme’.

Watch a video about how it works, and find out more on their website.