An international non-profit organization is setting its sights on putting up a waste facility in the country that can recycle tons of plastic wastes into ‘eco-planks’ and emergency shelters that can be used when disaster strikes.
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (Alliance) has partnered with a local social enterprise The Plastic Flamingo to mount its first project ‘Planks of Promise’ in the country that will ramp up collection of plastic wastes in the Metro Manila area.
In a statement sent to IOrbitnews, The Plastic Flamingo CEO François Lesage said they are in the process of acquiring a site for the new recycling facility, expected to be operational by the end of the year. However, It was not mentioned where the site is located.
Lesage said: “With the help of the Alliance, this project will ramp up plastic waste recycling rates over the next three years, and we hope to recycle 2,000 metric tons per year by 2022.”
He added that currently, the Plastic Flamingo already has 62 operational collection points, and with this partnership, it is looking to work with more communities to make plastic waste recycling easier for Filipinos.
The Plastic Flamingo which provides a unique solution to the plastic waste woes, is also working with other investors, sponsors and corporate partners such as the Learning Tree preschools, Forbes Park community and EndRun Colleges, among others.
Alliance’s Plank of Promise project in the country is seen to triple the collection points by 2022, Lesage said.
For his part, Jacob Duer, President and CEO of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, said “Asia is an important focus for the Alliance, as it accounts for 80% of plastic waste leaking into the environment, adding that “with Planks of Promise, we can develop a sustainable waste management system that fits the needs of the local community, and at the same time provide strong yet affordable emergency shelters during natural disasters.”
Alliance was founded in 2019 and has committed to invest $1,5 billion to solve plastic wastes problems.
It aims to unite industry, governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to develop and invest in projects that make use of their collective resources and technical capability.