Quito, (EFE).- More than 435 kilograms of plastic waste were collected Friday from the San Pedro River in Ecuador’s capital, Quito, during a community cleanup effort known as a minga. The event was part of the ‘Galápagos Guardians’ program, which aims to reduce plastic pollution in Ecuador’s rivers by 30% before 2030, to protect the fragile marine ecosystem of the Galápagos Islands.
“If we don’t act now, the Galápagos have an expiration date. Plastics could destroy the ecosystem,” warned Inty Grønneberg, CEO of Ichthion, a technology company leading the initiative.
Ichthion promotes river decontamination through a mix of high-tech devices, community engagement, and recycling efforts, supported by a 13-million-dollar investment.
According to the Coalition for Ocean Cleanup and Protection, of which Ichthion is a member, plastic waste in Ecuador’s waterways has increased by 60% in the last four years.
The Global Plastic Action Partnership estimates that around 16,000 tons of plastic are dumped into the Pacific Ocean annually from Ecuador’s coast, much of which reaches the Galápagos via ocean currents.
A systemic problem with a collective solution for Galápagos
Grønneberg stressed that poor waste management is at the root of the problem.
“What’s thrown in the streets or creeks ends up in rivers and finally the sea. This is a systemic issue requiring a collective solution,” he said.
He also noted that only two out of ten rural residents in Ecuador have access to regular waste collection.
“In many cases, people burn or dump their trash in rivers because they have no other option,” Grønneberg added.
To tackle the issue, the initiative operates in three phases: first, detecting pollution hotspots using drones and satellite imagery; second, manual and mechanical cleanups; and third, installing river-based devices to trap and classify waste directly from the water.
Eight of these devices are planned across Ecuador’s river systems by 2030. Each unit contributes to measurable environmental impact.
“For every kilo recovered, we can quantify how much pollution we’re preventing. This allows us to provide a real, data-backed impact service,” Grønneberg explained.
Plastic waste and social impact So far in 2024, the project has collected around 34 metric tons of waste. In the first half of 2025, the same volume has already been matched, said Andrea Lema, Director of Impact for the initiative.
“The problem is severe and requires a shared responsibility approach. Every citizen plays a crucial role,” Lema noted.
The project also includes a social dimension aimed at supporting waste pickers.
“About 20,000 people, mostly women, in Ecuador, make a living by collecting and selling recyclable materials,” Grønneberg said. “We want to ensure they are included and supported through decent jobs.”
Another goal is to inform public policy using data from the cleanups.
One recurring material is expanded polystyrene (locally known as espumaflex), which is non-recyclable and frequently found in rivers.
“This kind of data is key to recommending bans or substitutions,” said Grønneberg.
With rising volumes of plastic waste entering the oceans each year, especially from rivers, initiatives like Galápagos Guardians aim not only to clean but to reshape how countries like Ecuador manage waste, before it reaches one of the planet’s most unique ecosystems. EFE
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