There’s something quietly hopeful happening in Helsinki. Amid the Nordic light and the hum of innovation, we met with RiverRecycle, a company on a bold mission: to stop plastic waste before it reaches the ocean.
Their approach is refreshingly pragmatic — capturing waste directly from rivers, transforming it into useful materials, and empowering communities in the process.
Each RiverRecycle installation acts like a local ecosystem — cleaning waterways, creating jobs, and turning collected plastics into second-life products such as durable boards for schools, shelters, and everyday furniture. It’s not just technology; it’s design for dignity.
We’re proud to announce that RiverRecycle will be part of Environmental Xperience at EarthX 2026 in Dallas, where their team will showcase how circular thinking can rewrite the story of waste. Their work exemplifies what Environmental Xperience stands for — connecting sustainability with human livelihoods and innovation.
The next chapter begins in Guatemala’s Motagua River, one of the most polluted waterways in the Americas. Supported by the Rotary Club of Newport Beach and Rotary Global Grant G-3772, this major cleanup project will intercept tons of plastic before it ever reaches the Caribbean. Once operational, the effort will expand to the Tijuana River, bridging two nations with one goal: clean rivers, clean seas.
It’s a reminder that every current leads somewhere — and that by working together, we can change its course.