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.

CCBO Focal Countries

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.

See All Insights & Updates

Insights & Updates

Air pollution in New Delhi, India. Photo: Jean-Etienne Minh-Duy Poirrier via Flickr. CC by SA 2.0.

De Desechado A Recuperado: Reduciendo la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos de la República Dominicana.

March 17, 2023

USAID Spotlights Cities at Our Ocean Conference

March 16, 2023
Woman sifts through trash in Phillippines.

Six ways USAID is advancing gender equality in the waste sector

March 15, 2023

The Festival “Máncora Recycles, Get on the wave of recycling”

March 2, 2023

Blended Finance: A Blueprint to Support a Circular Economy in Indonesia

February 28, 2023

USAID Program Signs Agreement with Municipalities of Samaná and Las Terrenas to Strengthen Waste Management Planning and Recycling Systems

February 3, 2023

Workshop on best practices to promote solid waste management in the Dominican Republic

February 3, 2023

Fostering Partnerships in Sri Lanka to Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution

January 10, 2023

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

December 29, 2022

CCBO Launches New Capacity Building Tool for Local Governments

December 14, 2022
Woman at table reading report.

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

November 29, 2022

United States Announces Partnership to Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution in Indonesia

October 13, 2022

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

October 13, 2022

USAID and Partners Award Grant to Woman Waste Collector

October 13, 2022
Christine, an Eco-Warrior, sorts through waste in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines wearing her new uniform co-created and provided through a USAID-supported grant to Project Zacchaeus.

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

August 11, 2022
woman standing with trash bags

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

July 19, 2022
back of woman holding gloves

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

July 5, 2022
3 people seated at table signing documents

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

April 6, 2022
4 people standing in front of waste collection vehicles

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

March 28, 2022

Eco-Warriors: From Waste Collectors to Community Leaders

March 8, 2022
(Right) Rene Acosta, Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Program Asia Regional Director, and Arlene Bantoto, Nestlé Philippines Senior Vice President and Head of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, sign the memorandum of understanding to help improve local solid waste management in the country.

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

February 10, 2022
Khanh Son landfill in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam. Photo credit: Nguyen Minh Duc

USAID Announces New Vietnam Partnership to Address Ocean Plastic Pollution

January 13, 2022
4 image collage

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

January 11, 2022
man and woman in front of container

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

December 15, 2021
people standing around table with map model

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

December 9, 2021
officials standing on stage at event

USAID launches program to combat ocean plastic pollution in Peru

November 22, 2021

Plastic is a Climate Issue, Too

November 10, 2021
women in training

Virtual Event Empowering Women in Waste: Philippines Activity Launch

September 26, 2021
See All Resources

Key Resources

Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Overview

May 27, 2022
Case Study

Modelo de saneamiento de vertederos para reducir el impacto
climático y la contaminación por plásticos en los océanos

March 17, 2023

From Waste to Recovery: Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution in the Dominican Republic

March 2, 2023
Fact Sheet

Solid Waste Capacity Index for Local Governments (SCIL) Fact Sheet

March 2, 2023
Case Study

Building Local Government Capacity for Improved Solid Waste Management Systems

March 1, 2023
Case Study

Empowering Informal Waste Workers

March 1, 2023
Case Study

A model for waste site remediation to reduce climate impacts and ocean plastic pollution

February 15, 2023
Issue/Policy Brief

USAID Extended Producer Responsibility Roundtable (EPR) Summary

January 17, 2023
Technical Note/Tool

Solid Waste Capacity Index for Local Governments (SCIL) Tool

December 14, 2022
Fact Sheet

Advancing a Circular Economy and Empowering the Informal Waste Sector

November 29, 2022
Fact Sheet

The Women in Waste’s Economic Empowerment (WWEE) Fact Sheet

November 10, 2022
Technical Note/Tool

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean’s Solid Waste Cost-of-Service Analysis 

November 7, 2022
Fact Sheet

Addressing Climate Change Through Circularity and Improved Solid Waste Management

November 3, 2022
Fact Sheet

Conserving Marine Biodiversity by Combating Ocean Plastics

November 3, 2022
Technical Note/Tool

Marine Litter Audit Guidebook

November 2, 2022
Technical Note/Tool

Street Litter Audit Guidebook

November 2, 2022
Technical Note/Tool

Solid Waste Capacity Index for Local Governments (SCIL) Assessment Tool Overview

June 9, 2022
Case Study

Stopping Ocean Plastic Pollution from Cities: A USAID Case Study from Parañaque City, Philippines

May 16, 2022
Report

Social and Behavior Change Trials of Improved Practices: Final Results – Samaná Province, Dominican Republic

May 12, 2022
Project Report

Funding Options for Solid Waste Systems in Low- to Middle-Income Countries

May 12, 2022
Technical Note/Tool

Clean Cities Blue Ocean Initial Gender Assessment

May 12, 2022
Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Gender Equality & Women’s Economic Empowerment Fact Sheet

December 29, 2021
Case Study

Brief: Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution in Paranaque City, Philippines

November 8, 2021
Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Dominican Republic Fact Sheet

May 27, 2022
Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean – Indonesia Fact Sheet

December 28, 2021
Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Maldives Fact Sheet

June 28, 2022
Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Peru Fact Sheet

December 28, 2021
Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Philippines Fact Sheet

May 30, 2022
Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Sri Lanka Fact Sheet

December 28, 2021
Fact Sheet

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Vietnam Fact Sheet

December 28, 2021
Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Training Hub:
Access live and on-demand events and trainings.