Whitsundays

by Plastic Collective | Apr 23, 2019

CERTIFIED ETHICAL PLASTIC PROGRAM

Whitsunday Islands

Ocean Trash Recycling Shack

Queensland

AUSTRALIA

Problem

In the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, there are over 200 stunning uninhabited islands making up the Whitsunday region. On these islands plastic marine debris regularly washes ashore through currents, tides and winds from the Pacific Ocean. Since 2009, Ecobarge Clean Seas volunteers have removed more than 191,000 tonnes of marine debris from these islands using a flat bottom barge. As no other option existed, the collected debris was sent to landfill.

Solution

In May 2018, a Shruder program was delivered to Ecobarge, sponsored by Coca-Cola South Pacific, which provided the Shruder, working with plastics training, tools and equipment for an onsite plastics recycling plant. Through PC’s closed loop network, Ecobarge was partnered with WAW Handplanes (product manufacturer). As recovered ocean plastic is highly sought after by product manufacturers, Ecobarge benefits from above industry prices for their shred. Funds from these sales assists the not-for-profit group to support and expand their environmental education operations including a Marine Debris Education Centre and Marine Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Hospital.

PARTNERS

Mantanani Island (old)

by Plastic Collective | Apr 23, 2019

CERTIFIED ETHICAL PLASTIC PROGRAM

Mantanani Island

Mantanani Plastic Recycling Centre

Sabah (Borneo)

MALAYSIA

Problem

Mantanani Island, located 30km northwest of Sabah, has a population of 1000 locals and 22 resorts. The main industries are fisheries and increasingly tourism. As there are no cars or transport on the small tropical island, waste materials are either burnt, thrown directly into the sea or left on the beaches for the free-roaming cattle to eat. Plastic pollution dominates the white beaches and the intertidal zone of the large coral lagoon, harming all marine life and affecting local community health.

Solution

Reef Check is a scientifically based organisation that assesses and supports the health of coral reefs globally. The Malaysia branch has established a team in Mantanani Is. that is working with the local community to develop capacity building skills, including literacy, environmental education and resource recovery. After establishing Mantanani Is. Plastic Recycling Centre, Reef Check received sponsorship from Coca-Cola Malaysia to deliver the mobile Shruder program. Delivered in April, 2019 they aim to produce materials for the locals and sell shred for profit.

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PARTNERS

Les Village (old)

by Plastic Collective | Apr 23, 2019

CERTIFIED ETHICAL PLASTIC PROGRAM

Les Village

The Shruder Workshop

North Bali

INDONESIA

Problem

Les Village is located on the northern coastline of Bali, 45 minutes east of Singaraja. The village is home to mostly fishermen, salt farmers and their families. Tourism is low compared to the more populated southern region. In the past, cyanide fishing and reef bombing devastated the coral reef and fish populations, affecting the livelihoods of the entire region. Likewise, the lack of waste collection results in the majority of plastics being burnt around the houses, thrown into rivers or randomly dumped. The majority of this waste is then washed into the ocean during the heavy rain season.

Solution

Established as a coral reef restoration project through ‘volun-tourism’ in 2012, Sea Communities evolved into a community engagement and capacity building enterprise which empowers village members and visitors alike with programs including literacy, marine conservation and resource recovery. In April 2019, the Shruder Resource Recovery program funded by TK Maxx (UK), was delivered and included 2 Shruder machines, tools and working with plastics training, resulting in the development of a micro-enterprise onsite plastic recycling workshop.

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PARTNERS

Gili Air (now old)

by Plastic Collective | Apr 16, 2019

CERTIFIED ETHICAL PLASTIC PROGRAM

Gili Air

Daur Project

Lombok

INDONESIA

Problem

Gili Air is one of 3 small islands located off the Northwest coast of Lombok. Plastic pollution is evident right across the island and in the surrounding waters threatening the health of coral reefs and the spectacular marine life. With a high tourist influx, the island lacks resources to recover the plastic waste generated by locals and tourists, as shipping bulky lightweight material to the mainland is costly. The rubbish is mostly burnt around the households or dumped in a central site where cows and other animals forage in the mixed waste.

Solution

DAUR Foundation, our local partner on the ground in Gili Air, actively supports locals helping to create alternative income sources by selling recycled, ethical products, made from local waste. DAUR provides education and training programs for local youth and women’s groups and has a vision to expand further plastic recycling activities in West Lombok. The aim is to decrease plastic waste while increasing livelihoods. With support, Plastic Collective can deliver a Shruder machine, tools and working with plastics training required for a complete onsite plastic processing plant.

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Trash Mountain (now old)

by Plastic Collective | Apr 16, 2019

CERTIFIED ETHICAL PLASTIC PROGRAM

Trash Mountain

Suwung Community Centre

Bali

INDONESIA

Problem

Trash mountain, or Tres mountain to the locals, is located North of Sanur, in Bali. This mountain of rubbish comes from 4 cities in southern Bali. It is where half of all Bali’s rubbish from resorts, tourists and locals is dumped. There are 100 families, over 500 men, women and children living on Trash mountain. This is a community of trash pickers, earning less than $3/day. Men climb the mountain picking single-use plastic bottles and containers which the women clean and sort in makeshift shade of cardboard and tin.

Solution

Suwung Community Centre was set up to empower disadvantaged trash pickers through training in alternative work and to provide literacy and education for their children. Working in partnership with BaliLife, Plastic Collective will deliver the Shruder machine, tools and working with plastics training to empower the Trash Mountain community with an onsite plastic processing plant. The plant will provide the community with the means to create for themselves new micro-businesses, reduce their transportation costs, increase their current profits and improve their overall quality of life and those of their children.

OUR PARTNERS

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Atauro Island (now old)

by Plastic Collective | Apr 16, 2019

CERTIFIED ETHICAL PLASTIC PROGRAM

Atauro Island

Atauro Island Recycling Centre

Timor Leste

EAST TIMOR

Problem

Located in the Coral Triangle, Atauro Island is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with over 643 species of reef fish alone. With no designated waste facilities on the island all rubbish is either buried or burnt. The locals and tourists, have been conducting weekly beach clean ups collecting, documenting and sorting marine debris of which 91% has been plastic. The local community is well aware that income from ecotourism and reef diversity is key to their future.

Solution

Barry and Lina own the eco-lodge Barry’s Place, a social enterprise and community networking hub. To help deal with the mounting piles of plastic waste, Barry and Lina have donated land and constructed a lockable work space for the community to house a recycling centre. With support they can complete this project adding a Shruder machine, the tools and working with plastics training required for a complete onsite plastics recycling plant. Protecting the reefs from plastic and providing the community with an economic and sustainable solution.

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