Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) is USAID’s global, flagship program for implementing the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and reducing the estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic that flow into the ocean each year. By enhancing circularity in rapidly urbanizing areas of developing countries, Clean Cities, Blue Ocean is targeting a major source of ocean plastic pollution.
- USAID’s Five Building Blocks for Reduced Ocean Plastic Pollution together create the program’s systems approach:
USAID strongly believes that local solutions are key to addressing the global challenge of ocean plastic pollution. The program works in collaboration with local partners, as well global experts, to implement and test locally-relevant and sustainable approaches to reduce ocean plastics that can be shared, scaled, and tailored to meet the needs and local realities of individual communities, public and private sector actors, and waste value chains around the world.
Learn more about Clean Cities, Blue Ocean’s program approach and technical areas, or download the program fact sheet.
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean works across ten countries and in more than 25 cities in Asia, Pacific Islands, Latin America and the Caribbean. Through these activities, USAID is implementing the priorities of Section 202 of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act in key ocean plastic pollution hotspots.
Program Impact
As of March 2023, Clean Cities, Blue Ocean has:
- Safely managed over 445,000 metric tons of waste and recyclables
- Prevented over 60,000 metric tons of plastics (the equivalent of nearly 6.5 billion plastic bottles) from leaking into the environment
- Recovered and diverted over 1,800 metric tons of plastic and other waste from landfills, while supporting local livelihoods and building circular economies
- Trained over 7,100 individuals from local government, the informal waste sector, and local organizations to build local capacity for solid waste management planning and programs
- Directly impacted over 9.2 million individuals who have experienced improved air and water quality as a result of landfill remediation activities or have improved access to waste services as a result of new local businesses and organizations
- Awarded over $6.9 million in grants to more than 43 local organizations and in-kind support to 8 city governments to implement effective, locally-led solutions
- Mobilized over $8.5 million in additional investments for improved solid waste management systems and infrastructure
- Formed partnerships with local governments; private sector partners, including Nestle Philippines and the Coca-Cola Foundation; and groups including the Metro Manila Development Authority and World Bank, to build sustainable, circular economies
For general inquiries about Clean Cities, Blue Ocean, please contact info@cleancitiesblueocean.org. For questions specific to grant opportunities, please contact opportunities@cleancitiesblueocean.org.
Insights & Updates
See All Insights & Updates
From the Field: Increasing Community Recycling and Recovery of Waste to Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution
From the Field: Reducing Single-Use Plastics Through Social and Behavior Change Research
USAID Awards First Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Grant in Pacific Islands to Combat Ocean Plastic Pollution
De Desechado A Recuperado: Reduciendo la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos de la República Dominicana.
USAID Spotlights Cities at Our Ocean Conference
Six ways USAID is advancing gender equality in the waste sector
From Waste to Recovery: Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution in the Dominican Republic
The Festival “Máncora Recycles, Get on the wave of recycling”
Blended Finance: A Blueprint to Support a Circular Economy in Indonesia
USAID Program Signs Agreement with Municipalities of Samaná and Las Terrenas to Strengthen Waste Management Planning and Recycling Systems
Workshop on best practices to promote solid waste management in the Dominican Republic
Key Resources
See All ResourcesClean Cities, Blue Ocean Overview
Strengthening Routing and Collection for Improved Waste Management Fact Sheet
Strengthening Routing and Collection for Improved Waste Management
Reducing Single-Use Plastics Through Social and Behavior Change Research
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Dominican Republic Fact Sheet
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean – Indonesia Fact Sheet
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Maldives Fact Sheet
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Peru Fact Sheet
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Philippines Fact Sheet
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Sri Lanka Fact Sheet
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Vietnam Fact Sheet
Trials of Improved Practices Manual
Modelo de saneamiento de vertederos para reducir el impacto
climático y la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos
Solid Waste Capacity Index for Local Governments (SCIL) Fact Sheet
Building Local Government Capacity for Improved Solid Waste Management Systems
Empowering Informal Waste Workers
A model for waste site remediation to reduce climate impacts and ocean plastic pollution
USAID Extended Producer Responsibility Roundtable (EPR) Summary
Solid Waste Capacity Index for Local Governments (SCIL) Tool
Advancing a Circular Economy and Empowering the Informal Waste Sector
The Women in Waste’s Economic Empowerment (WWEE) Fact Sheet
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean’s Solid Waste Cost-of-Service Analysis
Addressing Climate Change Through Circularity and Improved Solid Waste Management
Conserving Marine Biodiversity by Combating Ocean Plastics
Marine Litter Audit Guidebook
Street Litter Audit Guidebook
Solid Waste Capacity Index for Local Governments (SCIL) Assessment Tool Overview
Stopping Ocean Plastic Pollution from Cities: A USAID Case Study from Parañaque City, Philippines
Social and Behavior Change Trials of Improved Practices: Final Results – Samaná Province, Dominican Republic
Funding Options for Solid Waste Systems in Low- to Middle-Income Countries
Clean Cities Blue Ocean Initial Gender Assessment
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Gender Equality & Women’s Economic Empowerment Fact Sheet
Brief: Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution in Paranaque City, Philippines
