The Plastic Bank Markets in Haiti Now Exchange Plastic Waste for Solar Cell Phone Charging
When The Plastic Bank began working in Haiti we knew that the lack of electricity would be an obstacle to our success. We’ve learned that when you are finding solutions to big social challenges, the obstacle is the way.
We are proud to introduce Haiti’s first Solar Powered Recycling Markets to better serve the communities we work with. Each of our markets serve as collection hubs for plastic that would otherwise end up in waterways, oceans, or burned.
The Solar Powered Recycling Markets are managed by local entrepreneurs, who work with other collectors and recyclers within the Ramase Lajan network (meaning ‘picking up money’ in Creole). The unreliable power grid in Haiti interferes with these recycling entrepreneurs’ ability to charge a phone, access the internet and even keep the lights on. In order to help them make a positive impact in their community we are installing solar panels on their markets that will provide reliable electricity, wifi and light.
We saw that most of the people in Haiti also face the same challenge: a lack of electricity and connectivity. Although 87% of Haitians do not have access to regular electricity in their homes, the majority of people depend on their phones to earn an income.
Emmanuel; a motorcycle taxi driver who lives and works in in Port-au-Prince, faces this challenge nearly every day. He wants nothing more than to provide his 3 children with greater opportunities that he ever had. Emmanuelle was born into extreme poverty and his family survives on less than $2 a day. Emmanuel sole source of income is driving people around town on his motorcycle for little more than the price of fuel.
Emmanuel’s income is often affected by blackouts; when the power goes out he is unable to charge his phone and misses calls from would-be customers. In the past he has been forced to decide between paying to charge his mobile phone for work the next day, or putting food on his family’s table.
The Plastic Bank Solar Powered Recycling Markets in Delmas 31 has unlocked new possibility for Emmanuel. While he waits for his next fare, he can collect waste plastic to exchange for cash, or credit to charge his phone at our Solar Powered Recycling Market. This means that even when work is slow, he has a reliable income and can begin to save for his children’s education.
The social impact of The Plastic Bank is made possible through the sale of our ethically sourced recycled Social Plastic®.
The Plastic Bank is making plastic waste a currency in developing countries to help reduce global poverty and plastic waste. We offer people in need an above market value for the plastic they collect and continue to build a life improvement platform for ‘resource entrepreneurs’. The plastic we collect is recycled and sold as Social Plastic® to brands for use in their manufacturing as a replacement for virgin plastic. Every person can play a part in preventing plastic waste from entering our oceans. If you would like to help us solve this problem you can join the million plus people who have already helped to prove the demand for Social Plastic ® on Facebook or you can participate in our ask a brand to use Social Plastic ® campaign.
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