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 October 2022, Clean Cities, Blue Ocean has:
- Secured over 51,060 metric tons of plastic and other materials (the equivalent of over 5.52 billion plastic bottles) from leaking into the environment
- Recovered and diverted over 230 metric tons of plastic and other waste from landfills, while supporting local livelihoods and building circular economies
- Trained over 2,200 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 8.3 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 $5.28 million in grants to local partners to implement effective, locally-led solutions
- Mobilized over $8.4 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

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

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

Fostering Partnerships in Sri Lanka to Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution

Island Climate Initiative, USAID launch Island Plastics Challenge to help consumer goods companies address plastic waste

CCBO Launches New Capacity Building Tool for Local Governments

USAID Convenes Partners to Ensure a Fair, Just, and Inclusive Design of the New International Plastic Treaty

United States Announces Partnership to Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution in Indonesia

U.S., CORA Launch Center to Fight Ocean Plastic Pollution in Parañaque City

USAID and Partners Award Grant to Woman Waste Collector

Outfitting Waste Workers: Testimonies of a Safer, More Equitable Waste Sector in the Philippines

From the Field: Strengthening Local Waste Systems from Top to Bottom

From the Field: Building a Local Ecosystem for a Flourishing Circular Economy in the Philippines

USAID, Coca-Cola Foundation, WWF Partner to Empower Women to Address Ocean Plastic Crisis

U.S. Provides Waste Collection Vehicles to Improve Puerto Princesa City Waste Management

Eco-Warriors: From Waste Collectors to Community Leaders

USAID, Nestlé Philippines Partner to Support LGUs in Solid Waste Management and Climate Impact Reduction

USAID Announces New Vietnam Partnership to Address Ocean Plastic Pollution

USAID Develops New Self-Assessment Tool to Strengthen Local Government Capacity for Sustainable Waste Management Systems

From the Field: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Combat Plastic Pollution in the Philippines

USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Program Awards its First Grants in the Maldives

USAID launches program to combat ocean plastic pollution in Peru

Plastic is a Climate Issue, Too

Virtual Event Empowering Women in Waste: Philippines Activity Launch
Key Resources
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Overview
Modelo de saneamiento de vertederos para reducir el impacto
climático y la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos
From Waste to Recovery: Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution in the Dominican Republic
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
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
