River Cleanup

River Cleanup is an initiative led by Thomas de Groote. It is developing the Clean River Model, a systemic, open-source approach aimed at sustainably eliminating plastic pollution from rivers. As part of this work, the organisation launched and coordinated a world-first initiative in Belgium: mapping litter along the banks of the Scheldt using drones, with the support of trained citizen pilots supervised by its team.

By combining in-house expertise, drones, artificial intelligence and citizen participation, the project makes it possible to accurately identify pollution hotspots and target clean-up efforts more effectively. This approach strengthens environmental impact, improves the quality of the data collected and fosters local engagement.

Following a pilot phase that received two Geospatial Awards in 2023, 125 km of riverbanks were mapped in 2025. The aim is now to optimise and formalise open-source protocols that can be adapted for use in Belgium, Indonesia, Cameroon and India, as well as to develop a global model that can be replicated by local organisations.

The data collected feeds into a river data platform to support evidence-based decision-making and accelerate the transition towards plastic-free rivers.

This initiative was born from a desire to move beyond one-off clean-up actions and develop a structured approach based on reliable, actionable data. Faced with widespread and constantly evolving plastic pollution, it is essential to understand precisely where and how waste accumulates in order to take targeted and effective action. River Cleanup therefore developed a methodology combining drones and artificial intelligence, while involving citizen pilots within a structured and complementary framework.

Support from the AETHER Fund is crucial to consolidating this approach, formalising robust open-source protocols and preparing for their wider deployment as part of the Clean River Model, both in Belgium and internationally.