This data is live from Alchemy

Our proprietary blockchain-secured platform

Data last verified: Thursday, 04/25/2024

Ocean-bound plastic

Plastic Bank operates under the global standard defined by Jenna Jambeck. Ocean-bound plastic is defined as plastic that has not yet found its way into the ocean but is classified as "mismanaged waste". That is, plastic that is not being (formally) collected, is not likely to be collected, and is found within 50km of an ocean-bound waterway or coastal area.

Community Members

Individuals within a recycling community who collect plastic and exchange it at a Plastic Bank collection branch for secure income and life-improving benefits.

Equivalent Bottles Stopped

The amount of ocean-bound plastic collected and recycled in our recycling communities converted into bottles. Conversion rate is 50 bottles per kg (the average weight of a 500mL bottle is ~20g)

Recycling Communities

Community of plastic collectors living within 50 kilometres of ocean-bound waterways involved in plastic collection and its exchange at Plastic Bank collection points.

Alchemy

Alchemy is the blockchain platform that powers the Plastic Bank app. It enables fully traceable recycling processes, secures income for recycling community members and tailors impact reports for our stewards.

Join the Social Recycling Movement

Stop ocean plastic and support collection members like Ika, Danny, Bashay, and Carla Maria.

Scroll to read their stories

Bali, Indonesia

Meet Ika

Wife. Mother. Provider.

Thanks to Plastic Bank, Ika has additional income to buy better groceries as well as the ability to support her childrens’ needs, such as toys and school supplies.

I hope everyone in Indonesia and the world will stop littering. I’ve discussed the dangers of plastic pollution with my kids, that it cannot be decomposed for decades. Eventually, they’ll also protect the environment, so they can keep playing in nature.

Join the Social Recycling Movement

Manila, Philippines

Meet
Danny

Husband. Father. Fisherman.

Through Plastic Bank benefits, Danny continues to have food on the table and maintain his fishing supplies. He’s even been able to save for rainy days and complete renovations of his family home.

There are many negative effects of plastic that end up in the sea, and if we continue to let plastic overtake our oceans, what will happen? There have been times where we don’t catch any fish, but now that we are rehabilitating the sea, the fish are coming back.

Join the Social Recycling Movement

Cairo, Egypt

Meet
Bashay

Husband. Father. Writer.

Bashay didn’t have the opportunity to go to school and has dreamed of all his children being able to graduate. He spends his days collecting discarded plastic bound for the Nile and seas, exchanging it for benefits that allow him to support his childrens’ futures as well as provides them all health and work insurance.

Sometimes I ask myself, if nobody took care of this plastic, what would happen? I’m glad my job prevents plastic from reaching the Nile and seas.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Meet
Carla Maria

Mother. Provider.

Carla Maria collects plastic around her neighborhood and along the coastline of Guanabara Bay every morning. This allows her to secure income and still have time to spend with her six children.

The bonus I receive from exchange really helps me to support my family and afford the things we need. One of those things is the medicine for my son that I buy every month.

Join the Social Recycling Movement

Join the Social Recycling Movement

Let’s stop the devastation of ocean plastic and help alleviate poverty
Join the Social Recycling Movement

A world without ocean plastic is possible