Phase 1: scientifically validated, scalable and replicable monitoring system.
In 2023, for a whole year, a researcher monitored 20 selected locations within Amsterdam every two weeks. The goal of this monitoring sessions is to map the plastic pollution situation in the city. To effectively tackle the problem is fundamental to understand how the plastic moves from the city towards the river as well as which plastic items are most found in the waterways.
Phase 2: field labs installation and urban living lab approach for awareness creation.
Based on the insights learned during a successful monitoring phase, three companies selected their preferred sites for the installation of different technologies in Amsterdam’s waterways. These devices are being installed and will constitute the project’s field labs, where plastic is being collected, and the devices’ efficiency is being evaluated to measure their impact on the city. The three companies designing and installing plastic pollution collection devices are The Great Bubble Barrier (TGBB), TAUW Foundation, NORIA. These pilot projects will allow these companies not only to prevent plastic from floating towards the North Sea but also to test and improve their devices for an even bigger impact on the plastic pollution situation of Amsterdam
Phase 3 and 4: Circularity Processing and Policy Measures
The next two years of the project will focus on looking at the circularity potential of the different types of plastic retrieved in the waterways of Amsterdam and on prevention and policy interventions for single-use plastic. The overall goal is to support the city in solving its urban plastic soup and this can be achieved through a combination of different actions. Plastic collection from the environment is not enough if the problem is not targeted at the source, therefore working on creating awareness and improving the production and management of the material is necessary
Project replication and international collaboration.
Plastic pollution is a worldwide threat to humans and the planet and to be successfully addressed it requires a strong collaboration between communities, governments, businesses, and knowledge institutions. The structured approach in phases developed by Amsterdam could be entirely replicated or partially replicated based on another location needs. For example, different companies could be involved (from the list above) based on the local needs, the severity of plastic pollution in the location and the available budget. AMS Institute is willing to guide and advice on the process, share lessons learned and the experience gained during this project, to support its replication in other cities and countries..
Urban Plastic Soup project’s partners at the waste sorting session
Workshop: bridging views on plastic pollution
Workshop: learning by prototyping
Urban Plastic Soup project’s partners sorting and analysing the waste
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OUR IMPACT
9.968
ITEMS OBSERVED OVER A YEAR
51,7%
OF ITEMS ARE FOOD-RELATED WASTE
3
devices to collect plastic pollution installed
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PARTNERS
WHAT WE DO
Cities, as we know them today, have a need to transform its systems on a metropolitan scale, to become more livable, resilient, sustainable and just, but also to offer good economic stability.Changing the urban fabric by working on big urban challenges in the fields of energy, circularity, digitization, climate resilience, mobility and food can help us create the cities we aim for.At AMS Institute we believe that by generating ideas, talent and collaborations, and closely interacting with cities as we know them today, we can help analyze, design and engineer solutions for the cities we need and aspire. Cities that are more sustainable, prosperous, resilient and just. We call this: re-inventing cities.Our ambition is to create sustainable metropolitan solutions by realizing a cross-fertilization of ideas: in our research, innovation and educational activities, but also by creating an innovative environment where connections are made between knowledge institutes, private and public organizations.As such AMS Institute is uniquely positioned to connect science to societal challenges, and solving those together.
HOW WE WORK
AMS Institute works on finding interdisciplinary metropolitan solutions. In close collaboration with both public & private partners and citizens, we valorize our research in practice, using the city of Amsterdam as a living lab.
