In Major Ocean Polluter Philippines, Group Turns Plastic Waste Into Planks

In Major Ocean Polluter Philippines, Group Turns Plastic Waste Into Planks
A worker loads shredded plastic to a machine to be molded into waterproof planks in the factory of The Plastic Flamingo or The Plaf, in Muntinlupa, Philippines, on Oct. 18, 2021. Eloisa Lopez/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

MANILA—A group of recyclers in the Philippines is trying to ease the country’s worsening plastic waste crisis by turning bottles, single-use sachets, and snack food wrappers that clog rivers and spoil beaches into building materials.

The Plastic Flamingo, or “The Plaf”, as they are commonly known, collect the waste, shred it, and then mould it into posts and planks called “eco-lumber” that can be used for fencing, decking or even to make disaster-relief shelters.