Plastics Upcycling Alliance

Summary:

USAID and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), through agreements with Mercy Corps, and with the Caltech construction company and global brewer Heineken, are partnering to advance plastic recycling in Timor-Leste. USAID’s agreement with Mercy Corps is called the “Plastics Upcycling Alliance (PUA).” The combined effort, known as the Plastic Solutions Alliance, seeks to move Timor-Leste towards ‘plastic neutral’ status utilizing market-based solutions.  The partnership is creating a value chain for used plastic that will add to Timor-Leste’s small manufacturing base, bring a measure of diversification to an oil-dependent economy, and move the country further along its journey to self-reliance. A supply chain for plastic waste is being created while simultaneously stimulating a market for products made from recycled plastic—known as ‘upcycling.’ Key measures of success are: 1) when citizens see the economic benefit of recycling plastics like the well-established waste metal market; and 2) when the price and quality of products produced by recycled plastic are better than competing alternatives in the local market.

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Convening the Partnership: In its first year of work, USAID partner Mercy Corps brought together KOICA with two private sector leads, Heineken Timor-Leste and Caltech construction company, around a shared vision of a plastics-neutral Timor-Leste, leveraging more than US$3.5 million in private and development partner funding to address Timor-Leste’s plastic waste challenge.
• Growing the Value Chain: From beginning to January 2021, over 11,933 kgs of plastic has been recycled, and with that plastic, 6,206 upcycled street pavers have been produced, with 3,251 already sold.

• Developing Recycled Plastic Products: The partnership developed seven new recycled plastic product lines, including three full prototypes, and implemented a comprehensive marketing campaign for new products. The seven product lines include: landscaping street pavers, traditional bricks, decorative bricks, construction blocks, footprint pavers, sidewalk curbs, and a plastic additive for asphalt