A group hoping to monetize the collection of discarded plastics for community and environmental organizations is a step closer to making its goal a reality.
PlasticShore, a youth-driven Victoria initiative that is working with industry to find uses for the pellets created in the plastics recycling process, is recruiting volunteer groups to do community cleanups for charity.
Plastics for Change, a pilot program running until the end of September, has 12 community groups signed up so far, said Andrew Almack, managing director for PlasticShore.
“We’re looking to get more participation and more plastics going into the system,” he said. “It’s a good start. We’re feeling pretty confident of having enough to make a production run later this year.”
Encorp Pacific, operators of Return-It Bottle Depot, has signed on to be the collector of the plastics and arrange for it to be pelletized, Almack said.
As well as removing plastics from the environment, the goal is to return money – raised through the sale of the plastic – to charity and environmental groups, he said. An advisory board is being formed to determine the direction of funds to such groups.
Groups interested in tackling a community cleanup this summer are asked to contact Almack at PlasticShore (aalmack@plasticshore.org) 30 days or more before their event, to have it registered as a Plastics for Change fundraiser.
For more information on the pilot project, including a video explaining the program, at plasticshore.org.
