Our community members

Collection community members exchange gathered plastic at registered Plastic Bank branches for additional income and access to social benefits, helping them to pave a path out of poverty.

Stories of Impact

53,792 active collection community members globally, each with a story to tell.

Haris, Indonesia

Haris S. has been a Plastic Bank collection member in Bali since April 2021. He lives in Bali, Indonesia with his wife and five children.

Previously, Haris and his wife [more]

Mabrooka, Egypt

Mabrooka, an Egyptian mother of four, has been part of Plastic Bank since 2022. Every day, she collects plastic from various households, sorting it meticulously in a rented basement [more]

Rasamee, Thailand

Rasamee, aged 45, resides in Khlaeng, Rayong, approximately 15 km away from the seashore. She shares her home with two family members and does not have any children.

At the [more] age of 35, she embarked on a journey of collecting plastic bottles, and over the past decade, she has developed expertise in this field. Each month, she manages to collect an impressive 1,000–2,000 kgs of plastic bottles from villages, temples, and schools.

She is deeply concerned about the issue of human-caused plastic pollution in her neighborhood. There are still careless individuals who irresponsibly discard plastic waste. She hopes that people will become more aware of plastic pollution and start sorting and recycling their plastic.

A few months ago, she joined the Plastic Bank & EcoBlue program, which has provided her with additional income. She uses the bonus tokens she earns to purchase meals, groceries, and utilities.

She envisions a future where people use plastic responsibly to prevent plastic bottles from entering rivers and canals, eventually reaching the sea. [less]

Asis, Indonesia

Asis is a Plastic Bank member in Bali, Indonesia. He is originally from Probolinggo, but moved to Bali to find a better livelihood. Unfortunately, Asis suffered from a lung disease [more] and the cost of medical treatment caused financial stress for him and his family.

Since joining Plastic Bank in May 2020, he began receiving health insurance. He was able to get the medical treatment needed without this extra expense.

His health has greatly improved, and he’s dedicated to collecting plastic to provide for his family while helping the environment. Every week, he can collect up to 100 kg of plastic! Beyond the health insurance, he also receives extra cash, working insurance, and grocery vouchers. [less]

Magda & Romany, Egypt

Magda, a dedicated plastic collection member who joined Plastic Bank in 2022, works alongside her husband, Romany, to create a life defined by love, hard work, and shared dreams. Each [more] day begins with Romany helping Magda collect and sort plastic, which they carefully deliver to Plastic Bank’s collection center. This work is not just a job for them; it’s a mission to build a better future for their family.

Their ultimate goal is to provide the best opportunities for their three children. They prioritize education, ensuring their kids attend school regularly and encouraging them to excel in their studies. To enrich their lives further, Magda and Romany enrolled them in Plastic Bank’s after-school program, where they explore their talents through sports, learn new languages, and engage in arts and crafts. These activities foster creativity and build valuable skills for the future.

Magda and Romany share more than the workload; they share the responsibility of raising their children and shaping them into well-rounded individuals. Their hard work is not just about collecting plastic—it’s about building a brighter tomorrow grounded in love and care for their family. Every step they take, every piece of plastic they collect, is a step toward a future filled with hope and promise for their children. [less]

Vanessa & Marcio, Brazil

Vanessa, along with her husband Márcio, exemplifies how individual actions can significantly impact local communities. Registered with Plastic Bank on September 13, 2021, Vanessa’s first recorded transaction was on October [more] 1, 2021. To date, she has recycled a total of 3,235 kg of plastic.

Residing in Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro, they witnessed firsthand the pollution of a canal flowing into a river. Inspired by Vanessa’s mother, who practiced recycling, they shifted their focus to recycling during the pandemic to ensure their family’s income amid reduced fish sales.

Driven by Márcio’s passion for fishing and frustration with ocean pollution, they began collecting plastic waste from a nearby mangrove and canal. Their collaboration with Dona Rosa, a branch owner of Sucatao de Itaguai, further supported their efforts as she helped collect recyclables from their home. Additionally, Vanessa and Márcio are committed to educating other residents and fishermen on the importance of recycling and proper waste disposal, fostering positive environmental change in their community. [less]

Umnuay, Thailand

Meet Umnuay, a resilient 62-year-old farmer from Thailand. Every day, he toils on his farms, yet his hard-earned income barely covers his basic needs.

Despite facing financial challenges, Umnuay embarks [more] on a noble mission after his farm work is done. He drives through villages and along seashores to collect discarded plastic bottles, amassing over 100 kilograms in just 2-3 hours.

In July 2023, Umnuay joined Plastic Bank & Ecoblue. Since that transformative moment, he has received Plastic Bank bonus tokens, which he uses to purchase medicine and daily necessities. His vision extends beyond immediate needs; he aspires to build a financial safety net for unforeseen challenges that may lie ahead.

Umnuay takes pride in being a part of a larger community committed to stopping ocean plastic. His work represents not only a personal journey but also a vital contribution to safeguarding our planet and oceans for the next generation. [less]

Elizabeth, Philippines

Elizabeth is a Plastic Bank member from Baseco Compound, Port Area of Manila. She is a widow and works as a street sweeper in her community.

She shares how it [more] bothers her deeply to see anyone throwing trash into the sea. She can’t help but tell them off, saying that that bad habit is causing the floods that bring so many problems to the community.

Even at 68, she works hard to put food on the table for her grandchildren. For her, collecting enough plastic to buy 2 kilograms of rice makes her so happy because she can prepare that along with some dried fish. Aside from receiving a push cart from Plastic Bank to help with her collection, she feels blessed to have also received a 35-kilo bag of rice as an incentive and a tablet that her grandson can use for school. She has always considered herself a person with a positive outlook in life, but she says she is even happier now as a Plastic Bank member who can make a living while helping clean the environment. [less]

Bashay, Egypt

Bashay is a father and Plastic Bank collector in Cairo, Egypt. In the afternoons, Bashay collects discarded plastic that is bound for the Nile and seas in exchange for bonuses [more] that help provide basic family necessities. Thanks to his work with Plastic Bank, Bashay has been able to support his children’s education and help his oldest daughter get married. [less]

Eko, Indonesia

Eko is a 55-year-old Plastic Bank collection branch owner in Bali. He started his business as a small junkyard in 2010. Over twelve years, he successfully expanded his business into [more] a prominent aggregator with five supplier/collection branches under his leadership. Combined, Eko’s branches can collect approximately 100,000 kg of PET before it reaches Bali’s beaches and the ocean.

In May 2020, Eko joined Plastic Bank, which provides him with various life-improving benefits such as increased income, an operational and safety toolkit, and additional training. His team members also gain access to Plastic Bank’s life-improving benefits. With the support of Plastic Bank, Eko was able to open two new collection branches in Denpasar and Jimbaran, Bali. Eko stands as one of our finest branch owner partners in Bali. We express our gratitude to Eko for his invaluable contribution in helping us combat ocean plastic and maintaining Bali as a clean and beautiful paradise! [less]

Vilma, Philippines

Vilma is a Plastic Bank collection member living in Baseco, the Port Area of Manila. One of the biggest problems they face is the enormous amount of garbage dumped on [more] the city’s shores. When typhoons come, the area floods and the sea brings in even more trash from the surrounding areas.

Every day, she goes around to collect plastic waste. After she collects, she removes labels and bottle caps and cleans the bottles.

She then brings them to the collection branch to weigh and log into the Plastic Bank app. She is happy that she has a source of livelihood through waste collection, allowing her to buy rice and groceries for her family. At the same time, she feels that she is doing her part to keep her community clean, caring for the surroundings, and helping solve the garbage problem that plagues the city [less]

Sutha, Thailand

Sutha is a 38-year-old collection member in Rayong, Thailand. He used to work as a CSR Officer but resigned from his job. He realized there is plenty of plastic waste [more] in Thailand, which is actually a valuable material that can be sold for recycling. So, he decided to become a full-time plastic collection member.

Before joining Plastic Bank & Ecoblue, Sutha was a part of a community working to raise awareness about environmental issues and give back to communities.

Now, he has initiated his own community group aimed at raising awareness about plastic pollution and encouraging plastic collection and recycling.

Since joining Plastic Bank and EcoBlue, he has been receiving additional income, which helps him pay for electricity and water. He hopes that more people will become aware and take action to implement proper plastic waste management, so his country can become plastic waste-free. [less]

Juhari, Indonesia

Juhari is from Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia. He comes from East Java and now has been living in Bali for 20 years.

Every day, he collects plastic using a motorbike and [more] Badung Regency. He can collect up to 500 kg of plastic per week, including HDPE, PET, and PP. Since becoming a Plastic Bank member, Juhari receives various life-improving benefits such as increased income, health insurance and smartphone subsidiaries. [less]

Carla Maria, Brazil

Carla Maria is a dedicated mother of five living in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro. Registered with Plastic Bank on March 31, 2021, she began her recycling journey on [more] the same day, having since recycled 2,040 kg of materials at Boa Reciclagem. With the bonuses she earns from exchanging recyclable materials, Carla has been able to renovate her home, purchase necessary medications, and provide food for her family.

She enjoys a good relationship with her neighbours, which enhances her community connections. Her daily routine includes collecting plastic from her neighbourhood and sorting it for exchange, ensuring a sustainable income that supports her children’s well-being. [less]

Frequently
asked
questions

Does Plastic Bank pay a salary to its collection community members?

Plastic Bank does not pay a salary to its members. They receive the local market rate for plastic by material type in cash from the buyer of the materials (collection branches). In addition to the standard market rate payment system, Plastic Bank uses a digital payment system to provide bonuses on eligible material collections above their market rate. The bonuses are paid directly to the members’ wallets in the PlasticBank® app through Plastic Bank tokens.

How does Plastic Bank find its collection community members?

Plastic Bank begins working in new territories with existing informal recycling communities wherever possible. We train and certify local collection communities (collection community members and collection branches alike) for compliance with our code of conduct and acquaint them with the PlasticBank® app usage requirements to enable traceability. We incentivize collection benefits for existing members and attract new participants.

We also establish Community Partnerships with local schools, places of worship, establishments, and institutions to set up accessible collection branches. We raise awareness about recycling and encourage proper waste segregation in households to reduce plastic pollution.

How can a person become a collection community member?

Collection community members must be 18+ years of age and registered in the PlasticBank® app. Any registered individual can sign into the PlasticBank® App to find the nearest local collection branch for exchanging discarded plastic.

Who are the collection community members?

An individual who is over 18 years of age, registered through the PlasticBank® app, and gathers discarded plastic from the environment is a collection community member. Some are full-time members who have worked in informal waste collection for many years, while others work with us on a part-time basis to supplement other sources of income. Regardless of how much or how often our collection community members collect plastic, age-verified collection members can exchange plastic for additional income and social benefits at their local collection branch.

Explain the work you do and what communities benefit.

Plastic Bank identifies vulnerable coastlines at the intersection of plastic pollution and poverty across the world that would benefit from plastic collection infrastructure. We then empower local entrepreneurs to establish collection branches in convenient locations and help gather collection communities together to collect discarded plastic from the environment. Community members exchange their collections at the branch for additional income and access to social, helping them to pave a path out of poverty and become changemakers by reducing plastic pollution. Collection members and collection branches are registered through the PlasticBank® app that records every transaction, enables traceable collection, secures income, and verifies reporting.