Ocean-Bound Community Collection and Recycling of Mixed Plastics in Ambon, Indonesia (PPRS)

This project partner works in Ambon, a remote island in Indonesia that doesn’t yet have proper waste management. The risk of plastic waste leaking from open, unmanaged landfills into the ocean is high.  All of the waste generated from materials that are imported to the island stays on the Island, and these communities urgently need a way to manage plastic waste locally.

This project operates five collection points where residents can segregate and dispose of their household waste into closed bins, and has appointed partners to collect and purchase plastic waste at 12 other collection sites that serve coastal communities. They also collect plastic waste extracted by municipal government boats up to 200 meters from the coastline, and from traps placed by an NGO on three major rivers in Ambon. The project also purchases plastic from waste pickers who collect from open landfills.

The plastic from these community, coastal and river collection points go to their best-in-class recycling facility which processes all plastics - even low-value plastics - into pellets and bales that can be used again as recycled content.

Environmental and social benefits of this project include:

• Collect plastic directly from the mismanaged landfills and open dumps, as well as directly from the ocean and river systems

• Reintroduction of recycled/upcycled materials back into the circulation 

• Increased income for informal waste sector 

• Increased income for participating community members 

• Higher participation of community members segregating plastics 

• Increased opportunities for women 

• Educational awareness program on plastic waste management 

• Improved dignity for informal waste sector