Agua Pura (onboarding)

The Dominican Republic is known for its tropical beaches and natural beauty. The country sits on the second largest island in the Caribbean, surrounded by seas rich with life. Almost 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of Atlantic and Caribbean coastlines attract millions of tourists each year, primarily from the USA. But lots of tourists means lots of trash, and the country lacks waste collection services. Waste is usually burned or dumped – eventually finding its way to the sea. This causes visible plastic pollution, threatens wildlife and marine ecosystems, and leads to waves of plastic washing up on beaches.

Supporting this project protects the natural environment in the Dominican Republic by incentivising plastic collection by informal workers. Ocean-bound plastic is collected, sorted, bundled, and sent for recycling – enhancing waste worker livelihoods, and supporting a more circular economy.