Plastic Beach Party
“The standard method of plastic disposal in Aruba is the same as any other waste materials, which are piled up in an open coastal dump which is situated in a residential area and is periodically on fire.”
Christie Mettes, Project Coordinator
Location
Fleming straat 26, Oranjestad, Aruba
Achivements
9000kg of plastic recycled in 3 years, 239000 tones of carbon emissions avoided and 2300 products made from recycled plastics
Awards
Recognised by the Premios Latinoamérica Verde in 2019 and ranked as the 17th most sustainable start-up in the region
Why is the project needed?
In 2019, Forbes named the Caribbean as the world’s biggest plastic polluters per capita. In Aruba, plastic is piling up in an open coastal dump – resulting in poor waste disposal and air pollution, marine plastic debris and carbon emissions. The project Plastic Beach Party was born as a recycling facility in Christie Mettes’ kitchen and has transformed the recycling culture in Aruba going from waste to product. It Is diminishing the negative effects of urban life relating to air quality and waste management (SDG 11.6) and It is prevent marine pollution (SDG 14.1).
The project in a nutshell
Christie Mettes, Project Coordinator, wanted to rethink how to tackle the issue of plastic waste, turning it into something that would suit the local context – and encouraging people to use less plastic.
The project started with a community design thinking session, where the people of Aruba designed together a recycling programme that could work for them. They assessed the current state of waste management and plastic problems, explored different products that could be designed with recycled waste for the local market, and experimented with recycling techniques to prototype the best ideas.
GALLERY
“We started in our house – a recycling facility in my kitchen. But it is what we had to do to keep growing.”
-Christie Mettes, Project Coordinator
Process of recycling
Plastic Beach Party developed an inclusive business model that charges a fee to those customers that want to ensure their plastic is recycled. The service covers sorting, cutting, washing of plastic, and shredding. The model allows people to volunteer with an hour of work per kg of plastic recycled – giving a free option to those who cannot afford to pay for the service. This also gives local people an opportunity to see first-hand what the recycling process entails.
The project is also educating the local community. They have hosted various science sessions to measure beach microplastic pollution and they set up open source air quality sensors. The initiative has also inspired other businesses in Aruba. An upcycling branch of national waste collection service, a chemical recycling plant and several waste-reduction initiatives are some of the companies that have recently emerged.
NGO Metabolic Foundation
9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
11: Sustainable cities and Communities
12: Responsible consumption and Production
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