Plastic-Free Oceans
Local leaders on the front lines of ocean plastic pollution prevention
Local champions across the world, including local city governments and determined individuals, are working to prevent ocean plastic pollution with the support of USAID. Plastic pollution poses a critical threat to marine ecosystems, endangering people and the environment.
Through their actions, and with the support of USAID, more than 1.2 million metric tons of plastic since 2021 — the equivalent of over 127 billion plastic bottles — have been prevented from entering the ocean. Let’s take a closer look at some of their stories.
Indonesia: Local Governments Leading the Way
City governments are responsible for managing local solid waste systems, the first line of defense against ocean plastic pollution, among the many other public services they provide. In the past waste management has not been a priority for many local governments around the world. However, in Indonesia, city leaders are placing a new emphasis on improving local waste systems to reduce pollution, promote cleaner communities, and reduce the myriad of downstream impacts that waste can have on a city.
In Makassar City, local officials took the leap this year to transform Tamangapa, the city’s more than 20-year-old waste disposal site, after learning through USAID-supported assessments that, as currently managed, it had limited years of use left and was generating harmful effects for the surrounding environment and community–including plastic leakage, odors and water pollution, and safety hazards for those working at the site.
Prior to its remediation, the disposal site exhibited many of the challenges common to open dumpsites: uncovered waste stored in uncontrolled piles prone to collapse and landslides, dangerous conditions for informal waste workers and the surrounding community, and an absence of any measures to reduce or control climate-fueling methane emissions.
Armed with knowledge from USAID, the local government led the site’s remarkable transformation from an open dumpsite to a controlled landfill that addresses the hazardous conditions and environmental risks once posed by the site’s uncontrolled waste accumulation.
With USAID’s guidance and its own funds, Makassar City has remarkably transformed the site , which is no longer classified as an open dumpsite, but rather, a controlled landfill.
The community and the local environment are now safer and healthier and, through the project, more than 6.8 million metric tons of waste have been safely managed. Of this, over 1 million metric tons of plastic and other low-value waste — the equivalent of over 118 billion plastic bottles — were prevented from leaking into the environment.
Peru: From Recyclers to Leaders of a new Circular Economy
Around the world, informal workers in the waste sector (individuals or groups who gather and sell recyclable materials outside formal waste management systems) gather more than half of all material collected for recycling. This is seen in Paita, Peru, where informal waste collectors like Socorro Adanaqué and Felicino Chamba have played a critical role in returning plastics and other recyclable materials to the circular economy, but have the potential to make an even greater impact.
Despite long, grueling days, Socorro and Felicino earned well below a living wage without access to critical equipment, resources, and connections to sell their hauls for fair and consistent prices.
“I have four children, one of them has a disability. For them, I go out to work every day, but last year, I told my husband that I was tired of carrying [heavy] bags and suggested we formalize [our work with other recyclers]. I like to recycle, I like to help,” Socorro explains.
After attending USAID’s Paita Recicla (Paita Recycles) program to strengthen recyclers’ associations and increase community recycling rates, Socorro and six other women formed a new association called “Jehovah is my Strength.”
Felicino had similar ambitions. With Matilde Adanaque, Felicino founded the “Jesus is my Captain” association to help build a cleaner, more sustainable community.
In the first quarter of 2024, the recycling associations collected twice as many recyclables as in all of 2023, significantly increasing their profits and improving their community’s environment.
Socorro and members from her association also started a new small business called Manitos Reciclando GUAUUU [Little Hands Recycling Woof], which upcycles collected plastic sponges into pet beds. With the support of USAID, they received essential equipment like sewing machines.
Socorro and Felicino represent a few of the 425 entrepreneurs in Paita making waves in their community, with the support of USAID training and business funding.
Dominican Republic: From Informal Waste Collector to Business Owner
Alfonso Frías spent many years working in Samaná Province’s hospitality sector. Disturbed by the plastic pollution generated by local tourism and lack of systems to manage it, Alfonso decided to start collecting plastics on his motorbike.
With support from USAID and local partner Sostenibilidad 3Rs, Alfonso took his informal business to the next level, establishing the company Reciclajes Bahía to collect plastic waste from local hotels and businesses, schools, and community recycling points.
Now, with a new USAID-provided collection truck and equipment to condense the plastics, Reciclajes Bahía sends over 400,000 plastic bottles each month to the national recycling market.
Alfonso has gained a national platform, regularly appearing on radio and television programs where he shares his expertise on how to improve recycling systems.
Philippines: From Entrepreneur to Community Leader Empowering Women
Elena Plaza and her husband spent many years working as informal waste collectors in Tondo, Manila. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they were unable to go outside to collect waste due to government restrictions.
The couple adapted by renting out their waste collection vehicle, and buying and selling recyclables from collectors who had clearance to travel. Eventually they started their own small junk shop.
In 2022, Elena joined USAID’s Women in Waste’s Economic Empowerment activity (WWEE), where she received training, mentorship, and a business grant to expand her junkshop.
“The mentoring I received was a good experience,” Elena shared. “I learned how to plan the operations of my junk shop. Before, I didn’t save from our earnings and spent everything for our family’s expenses. Now, I separate the capital and don’t spend it. With proper planning, I can reach my vision for my business.”
With USAID’s support, Elena’s income increased from around $180 per month to between $750-$1,200, and she was able to buy the house she was previously renting, install an indoor toilet and sink, and better support the needs of her eight children.
Through WWEE, Elena and over 700 other women have received training and support, resulting in their prevention of over 960 metric tons of waste and plastics from entering the environment since 2022.
Now a community leader and trainer, Elena helps other women in the waste sector manage their business finances and prevent more plastics from flowing into Metro Manila’s waterways.
In order to address the plastic pollution problem USAID, through Clean Cities, Blue Ocean, USAID’s flagship program under the Save Our Seas Initiative, supports more than 25 cities across 10 countries to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic.
Together with local and global partners, including its new CIRCLE Alliance, USAID is implementing sustainable, scalable solutions for reducing ocean plastics.
To date, the Save Our Seas Initiative has prevented the equivalent of more than 127 billion plastic bottles from polluting our environment. Learn more about the USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Program.
About the Author
The Clean Cities, Blue Ocean staff produced this story.
