The Litterboom Project Npc
The Litterboom Project NPC is a South African non-profit founded in 2017 that intercepts ocean-bound plastic in rivers via litterboom systems and River Warden teams, while running education programmes and an Innovation Hub that upcycles recovered plastic into products sold to consumers, businesses, and Plastic Neutral subscribers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersDurban, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Litterboom Project Npc does
The Litterboom Project NPC is a South African non-profit company (NPC) with Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status, founded in 2017 by Cameron Service and headquartered in Durban with second operations in Cape Town. It operates a "Source to Sea" model built on three pillars: Interception, Education, and Innovation. Its core technology is the litterboom — a plastic catchment system strategically placed in rivers to intercept waste before it reaches the ocean, supported by River Warden teams, a Reclaimer Support Programme advocating for post-consumer recycling workers, and a Buyback Centre in Blackburn on the Ohlanga River. The organisation also operates a Cape Town Innovation Hub housed in a converted shipping container at Rondebosch Golf Club, where recovered plastic is sorted, cleaned, and upcycled into commercial products (plant stakes, coasters, combs, spin tops, hooks) sold via the TLP Shop e-commerce platform (tlpshop.co.za). It runs a Wastepreneur training programme (launched Durban 2022, Cape Town January 2025), Beach Jam community events, and an Education Programme covering public, youth, and corporate audiences.
The business model is donation-led and mission-driven rather than commercial. Revenue streams include recurring individual and corporate donations, subscription-based Plastic Neutral certification (R67/month or R800/year) allowing participants to offset their plastic footprint through verified river interception, grant and sponsorship income from corporate partners (notably Corona and Oceanic Global funding eight River Wardens, and Mr Price Foundation and Chep supporting the Innovation Hub), and a modest e-commerce revenue line from upcycled products. Customer segments span local South African communities engaging as River Wardens, Reclaimers, and Educators; environmentally conscious individuals participating in Plastic Neutral; schools and educators; and corporate partners seeking ESG-aligned plastic offsetting through TLP's status as a registered Producer Responsibility Organisation. Distribution is domestic (KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape) and operated directly through community channels, social media, and event-based engagement.
As of the latest available data the organisation has prevented over 2,500,000 kg of plastic from reaching the ocean since 2017 across 10 active rivers (8 KwaZulu-Natal, 2 Western Cape) and supports a mix of permanent staff, sponsored River Wardens, and wider field teams.
The Litterboom Project Npc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Litterboom Project Npc
- Legal name
- The Litterboom Project NPC
- Website
- https://thelitterboomproject.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Litterboom Project NPC is a South African non-profit founded in 2017 that intercepts ocean-bound plastic in rivers via litterboom systems and River Warden teams, while running education programmes and an Innovation Hub that upcycles recovered plastic into products sold to consumers, businesses, and Plastic Neutral subscribers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Litterboom Project Npc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Services (Plastic Waste Management)
- NAICS
- Waste Collection (56211), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup) (TLAHAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)
Keywords
Where The Litterboom Project Npc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durban
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Litterboom Project Npc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorship: As an NPC with PBO status, relies on donations from individuals, business sector, and financial sponsors. Sponsors include Corona and Oceanic Global who fund River Warden positions.
- Plastic Neutral Programme: Monthly (R67) and annual (R800) subscriptions where participants offset their plastic usage by funding equivalent removal from the environment through TLP's interception teams.
- TLP Shop E-commerce: Sale of upcycled products made from collected plastic waste, including plant support stakes, coasters, combs, spin tops, and hooks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Plastic Neutral Monthly - R67/month |
| Subscription | Annual | Plastic Neutral Annual - R800/year |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Litterboom Project Npc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Litterboom Project deploys physical litterbooms and River Warden teams in rivers across South Africa to intercept plastic pollution before it reaches the ocean. It complements interception with education programmes for schools, communities and businesses, an Innovation Hub that upcycles recovered plastic into sellable products (plant stakes, coasters, combs, hooks), and a Plastic Neutral certification programme that lets individuals and companies fund equivalent plastic removal via subscriptions.
Product overview
The Litterboom Project is an NPC (Non-Profit Company) with PBO status that operates a Source to Sea environmental protection model with three interconnected pillars: Interception (River Warden Programme, Litterboom Systems, Reclaimer Support, Buyback Centres), Education, and Innovation. The Innovation Hub serves as a production and sorting facility where recovered plastic is upcycled into products sold via the e-commerce shop (tlpshop.co.za). The organisation also offers a Plastic Neutral Certification programme for individuals and businesses wanting to offset their plastic footprint.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Litterboom System River-based plastic catchment system using litterbooms strategically placed to capture plastic waste before it reaches the ocean; used by TLP's interception teams across rivers in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.
- River Warden Programme Teams of River Wardens who work to remove plastic pollution from rivers and serve as the last line of defence in restoring natural ecosystems.
- Reclaimer Support Programme Support programme for reclaimers — the informal waste pickers responsible for over 50% of post-consumer plastic recycling in South Africa — providing advocacy for fairer wages and increased infrastructure.
- Buyback Centre Infrastructure facility at the Ohlanga River community in Blackburn where entities offer payment to individuals for bringing in post-consumer materials including plastic.
- Cape Town Innovation Hub Converted shipping-container production space and sorting facility at Rondebosch Golf Club beside the Black River where plastic recovered by river teams is cleaned, separated, and repurposed into functional products.
- Wastepreneur Programme Training programme for entrepreneurs focusing on using plastic pollution from rivers and oceans to create products that increase the value of various plastic streams, including plastic sorting, shredding, and injection moulding.
- Plastic Neutral Certification Programme
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,500,000+ kg of plastic prevented from reaching the ocean since 2017
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Litterboom Project Npc
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Litterboom Project Npc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Litterboom Project Npc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CoronacoreCorona sponsors eight River Wardens working across four key sites on Cape Town's Black and Lotus Rivers. This partnership forms the backbone of daily interception efforts and underpins much of the progress made in tackling plastic pollution at source.
- Oceanic GlobalcoreCo-sponsor with Corona of eight River Wardens in Cape Town, supporting river interception efforts across four sites on the Black and Lotus Rivers.
- Mr Price FoundationcorePartnership with Mr Price Foundation and Chep enabled the establishment of the Innovation Hub in 2023, facilitating training of Wastepreneurs in the emerging up-cycling and recycling market.
- ChepcorePartnership with Mr Price Foundation and Chep enabled the establishment of the Innovation Hub in 2023, facilitating training of Wastepreneurs in the emerging up-cycling and recycling market.
- CoexistminorCollaboration on the Plastic Neutral campaign. Listed as collaboration partner for the Plastic Neutral programme.
- 1FORESTminorEnvironmental partner providing credibility and support to the organisation's environmental initiatives.
- Hunt PropertiesminorCorporate sponsor listed among supporters of The Litterboom Project.
- ParleyminorEnvironmental initiative partner focused on combating plastic pollution in oceans.
- AstoreminorCorporate sponsor listed among supporters of The Litterboom Project.
- ARBminorCorporate sponsor listed among supporters of The Litterboom Project.
- ERMminorCorporate sponsor listed among supporters of The Litterboom Project.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Litterboom Project Npc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Plastic Bank: Plastic Bank operates plastic collection and recycling networks in coastal communities, monetising recovered plastic through corporate offset programmes. Directly comparable to TLP's Buyback Centre, Reclaimer Support, and Plastic Neutral B2B offerings.
- The Ocean Cleanup: The Ocean Cleanup is the highest-profile plastic-pollution-removal organisation globally, deploying floating barrier systems in rivers and oceans. Directly comparable to TLP's river-interception model and Source-to-Sea philosophy, though at much larger scale and with international scope.
- Mr. Trash Wheel: Mr. Trash Wheel (Baltimore's Inner Harbor) is a solar-powered river-based waste collection system. The closest technological analogue to TLP's litterboom concept: physical barriers in urban waterways that intercept debris before it reaches the ocean.
- rePurpose Global: rePurpose Global runs a plastic-action marketplace enabling individuals and brands to fund plastic recovery. Comparable to TLP's Plastic Neutral programme and PRO-aligned corporate offering, though rePurpose operates globally with a tech-platform layer.
- 4ocean: 4ocean runs a paid cleanup/branded-product model similar to TLP's Plastic Neutral subscriptions and e-commerce upcycled products. Both sell recurring 'plastic removal' memberships and merchandise to fund ocean cleanup operations.
Broad incumbents
- Oceana: Oceana is the largest international advocacy organisation focused exclusively on ocean conservation. Comparable to TLP as a broad ocean-protection NGO with international scope, though Oceana's primary lever is policy advocacy rather than on-the-ground plastic interception.
- Surfrider Foundation: Surfrider is a large grassroots ocean-conservation NGO with beach cleanup, advocacy, and education programmes. Comparable mission surface to TLP (ocean plastic protection, education, community engagement), though focused on beach-level rather than river interception.
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: Sea Shepherd is a large marine conservation NGO operating globally with cleanup, advocacy, and direct-action campaigns. Comparable as a non-profit defending marine ecosystems, though focused more on wildlife protection than plastic pollution specifically.
- Plastic Pollution Coalition: Plastic Pollution Coalition is a global advocacy and education alliance addressing plastic pollution. Overlaps with TLP's Education pillar and broader plastic-pollution-reduction mission, with comparable NGO/non-profit structure.
- Parley for the Oceans: Parley is a globally recognised ocean-conservation network and a listed TLP partner. Both focus on marine plastic pollution reduction and corporate partnerships, but Parley operates at a much larger scale across multiple geographies and brand collaborations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Litterboom Project Npc social profiles
Digital presenceThe Litterboom Project Npc compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Litterboom Project Npc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Litterboom Project Npc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
The Litterboom Project Npc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Litterboom Project Npc M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Litterboom Project Npc
What does The Litterboom Project Npc do?
The Litterboom Project deploys physical litterbooms and River Warden teams in rivers across South Africa to intercept plastic pollution before it reaches the ocean. It complements interception with education programmes for schools, communities and businesses, an Innovation Hub that upcycles recovered plastic into sellable products (plant stakes, coasters, combs, hooks), and a Plastic Neutral certification programme that lets individuals and companies fund equivalent plastic removal via subscriptions.
Is The Litterboom Project Npc a public or private company?
The Litterboom Project Npc is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Litterboom Project Npc founded?
The Litterboom Project Npc was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Litterboom Project Npc based?
The Litterboom Project Npc is headquartered in Durban, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does The Litterboom Project Npc make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are plastic Neutral Programme and TLP Shop E-commerce.
Who are The Litterboom Project Npc's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Plastic Bank, The Ocean Cleanup, Mr. Trash Wheel, rePurpose Global and 4ocean. Broad incumbents are Oceana, Surfrider Foundation, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition and Parley for the Oceans.
Does The Litterboom Project Npc have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Litterboom Project Npc.
What industry is The Litterboom Project Npc in?
The Litterboom Project Npc's product category is Environmental Services (Plastic Waste Management). Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHAIAH, Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup), with a secondary code of EUAIAKAA, Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply). Its NAICS code is 56211 and its SIC code is 4953.