Philippines group turns plastic waste into planks

A group of recyclers in the Philippines is trying to ease the country’s worsening plastic waste crisis by turning bottles, single-use sachets and snack food wrappers that clog rivers and spoil beaches into building materials.

The Plastic Flamingo (The Plaf), as they’re generally recognized, gather the waste, shred it after which mould it into posts and planks referred to as eco-lumber that can be utilized for fencing, decking and even to make disaster-relief shelters.

The Plaf’s chief working officer, Erica Reyes, “It is 100% upcycled material, 100% made from plastic waste materials, we also include some additives and colorants and it is rot-free, maintenance-free, and splinter-free.”

Having collected over 100 tonnes of plastic waste up to now, the social enterprise is doing its bit to handle an area downside that has world ramifications.

Approximately 80% of worldwide ocean plastic comes from Asian rivers, and the Philippines alone contributes a 3rd of that whole, in response to a 2021 report by Oxford University’s Our World in Data.

The Philippines doesn’t have a transparent technique on tackling its plastics downside and its atmosphere division has mentioned it has been involved with producers to establish methods to handle waste.

Some 300 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced yearly, in response to the United Nations Environment Programme, an issue that has been exacerbated by the pandemic which sparked a rush for plastic face shields, gloves, takeaway meals containers and bubble wrap as on-line purchasing surged.

The Plaf’s advertising and marketing affiliate, Allison Tan mentioned, “People are unaware of how to dispose of these plastics.

“We give that avenue that instead of putting it in landfills or oceans, you give it to recycling centres like us and we would upcycle them into better products.”

As properly as tackling waste issues, the group says it’s in talks with different non-government organisations to assist rebuild homes destroyed by typhoons utilizing their sustainable constructing supplies.

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Kamila/Reuters