Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap

The Caribbean is home to more than 700 islands and coastal countries that are connected by a shared resource - the Caribbean Sea, with 10% of the world’s coral reefs, 1,400 species of fish and marine mammals, and extensive coastal mangroves. This region is an important biodiversity hotspot due to the high endemism on each island . However, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, valuable coastal and marine resources are under increasing threat from land and marine-based sources of pollution.

Pollution from solid waste, and in particular from plastics, has emerged as one of the greatest global challenges. And for a region like the Caribbean, whose prosperity depends on its crystal-clear waters and clean beaches, there is a need for immediate action.

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate effective, quantifiable solutions to address recyclable and unrecyclable plastic waste (the biggest fraction of plastic waste generated) and plastic leakage from Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)