CCCI, Finnish Firm Partner on River Cleanup

THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Finnish environmental technology company Riverrecycle Oy and its local subsidiary Riverrecycle Philippines Inc. to collaborate on eliminating plastic waste in Cebu’s waterways.

The agreement, signed on May 28, 2025, outlined the parties’ shared commitment to make Cebu the first city in the Philippines with zero plastic waste emissions into

the ocean.

The partnership aims to implement sustainable river-cleaning projects and promote circular economy practices through plastic waste recovery

and recycling.

Riverrecycle Oy, represented by president Anssi Mikola, is known for developing financially sustainable river-cleaning solutions globally. Its Philippine subsidiary, Riverrecycle Philippines Inc. represented by marketing specialist Michelle Fermin, will handle operations on the ground.

In past interview, Jay Yuvallos, president of CCCI, said the collaboration reinforces the chamber’s advocacy for environmental sustainability and responsible waste management. He shared the chamber’s ambitious goal of turning Cebu into a model city for clean rivers and zero plastic emissions.

During the chamber’s general membership meeting Mikola, founder and chief executive officer of RiverRecycle, introduced RiverRecycle’s innovative model, which turns low-value river plastic into usable construction materials, furniture and retail fixtures.

With over four million kilograms of plastic collected annually across 14 rivers in 5 countries, Mikola proposed a roadmap to make Cebu the first Ocean Plastic-Free City in the Philippines, powered by river cleanup technologies, plastic credit systems and community partnerships.

Under the agreement, Riverrecycle will identify river-cleaning projects in Cebu, develop operations for recycling collected plastic—primarily into durable boards—and coordinate with local stakeholders to ensure project financing and sustainability. The firm will also explore solutions for managing other types of waste streams.

For its part, CCCI committed to mobilize its member companies to support river clean-up efforts and promote the use of RiverRecycle’s recycled boards. The chamber will also engage with local governments to encourage household waste segregation and collection, contributing to the supply of plastic feedstock for board production.

The recycled boards are intended for use in community outreach programs, including school furniture donations, public park structures and event installations.

The two-year agreement also sets mechanisms for ongoing coordination between the parties, including regular exchanges of information and meetings of senior representatives to track progress and plan future initiatives. While non-binding, the MOA provides a framework for potential future contractual arrangements. / KOC