The TerraCycle Global Foundation reached an impressive milestone last month, announcing that they've removed over 2 million pounds of waste from rivers, canals, and waterways.

Since its founding, the nonprofit organization has targeted ocean pollution right at its source—waterways. When polluted, they send waste directly to oceans, harming sea life and the environment. Over 1000 tons have been diverted and recycled.

And, because the Foundation is founded by New Jersey-based TerraCycle—a two decades-old company known for turning plastic waste into useful items for sale—none of the litter collected ever goes to waste. (See a link to their cool bracelets below.)

Operating in canals throughout Bangkok, Thailand, TerraCycle's "world-class river waste prevention systems" are implemented with the local community and governments to address the complex challenge of collecting waste before it enters and pollutes global aquatic systems.

The Foundation is currently operating wildlife-safe river traps in Thai canals to recover waste directly from the water. The waste is then sorted, and plastics are separated and recycled.

"We take a holistic approach to reducing plastic waste in waterways," said James Scott, Executive Director of the TerraCycle Global Foundation. "Our operations provide safe, stable employment for members of the local Lat Phrao community in Bangkok while creating cleaner and healthier environments for communities along the canal."

"Reaching this waste removal milestone is only the beginning of the Foundation's work to clean our oceans and preserve the planet."

Indeed, last year the Foundation made a Clinton Global Initiative ‘Commitment to Action', with a project that prevents ocean waste. They pledged to replicate and scale its successful canal cleanup model in a new region in Southeast Asia, and establish a material recovery center as a central hub for waste management and educational programs.

Check out all the recycling going on at TerraCycle, especially their cool beaded bracelets that help collect 20-lbs of plastic waste with proceeds from every purchase—and 100% of it is made from diverted litter.

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