Communities tackle plastic pollution head on
Tingloy is an island and coastal community in the coastal province of Batangas with limited electricity, few jobs, and a median household income of just ₱120 (£1.70) per day – well below the national minimum wage.
Tingloy faces a critical environmental and socio-economic crisis due to plastic pollution. Parts of its islands act as natural catch basins, accumulating 500-100kg of plastic waste daily. With no recycling facilities and no standardised waste disposal system, plastic wastes continues to pile up along the shoreline with only occasional clean-up efforts led by NGOs.
The project offers a community-driven solution, using solar-powered recycling hubs to process marine and household plastic waste into durable materials for local use that can be sold, ensuring economic resilience of the community while significantly reducing plastic waste accumulation. It will provide training and employment to 120 people, including at least 40 women and girls and 35 people living with disabilities.