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

The South Sulawesi province in Indonesia, which spans many islands and vast stretches of coastline, lacks waste management infrastructure and is a high risk area for ocean plastic leakage.  

This project partner collects both rigid plastics as well as low value plastic waste, such as single use plastic bags and multi-layer packaging across a network of islands in South Sulawesi, which is processed into plastic pellets and flakes at their recycling centre in the province’s capital, Makassar.  Some of the pellets are converted into finished goods in their main factory in Surabaya.

The project partner buys plastic waste from informal sector waste pickers who collect it from unmanaged dumps and landfills in the area, preventing it from leaking into the environment, and also from locations within their communities, like houses, schools and offices.   

The majority of the informal sector waste pickers in this area are women, who benefit from this initiative. The project employs over 200 people in full time roles at their recycling centre, and aims to ensure an equal mix of men and women to maximise socio economic impact in this remote coastal region.

Credits will help this project partner increase their capacity and pay more for low value plastic, encouraging community collection.