RECYCLING PLASTIC

The plan to combat this abundance of plastic in the community is to create a recycling center. This recycling center is a place where the community can gather, sort, crush, and melt the plastic found in their waters. This program uses community labor, partnerships, and innovative recycling practices.

Bins

The collection bins are then moved to the recycling center where the bottles can be sorted, washed and chopped. The plastic is placed in the collection bins located throughout the community. When full, these bins are taken to the recycling center

Collection

The first step is for the community to collect plastic in their communtiy. This is already seen in their occasional Mingas.

Shreds

Bottles are cleaned and sorted at the recycling center before being shredded. Plastics are sold in shreds, and it conserves more space. Before shredding the bottles need to be separated.

This project proposes a partnership with LOOP, a group out of Lima Peru that is promoting the collection and reuse of plastic waste. They use plastic waste to create products to sell that also promote an awareness of the rising levels of plastics in the oceans. This partnership could include educational sessions, economic connections, and

Repurposing

Use

The chopped clear plastic is valued higher than colored plastic so this is packaged to be sold. Sold through a partnership with LOOP. The chopped colored plastics can either be packaged and sold, or placed in the parabolic mirror and melted.

The melted plastic can then be used for injection molding of construction materials for the community or products to sell.

The community can use a parabolic mirror heating system to melt the plastic without releasing toxic chemicals. This process was developed by FLIPFLOPI working in Kenya to create a traditionaly designed boat constructed out of recycled plastics. The mirror uses the power of the sun to heat a metal tube filled with the plastic shards. The melted plastic can then be injected into molds of items to sell at markets or construction materials to use in the community.