10B bottles collected: Plastic Bank’s 68,500 collectors prove waste is currency

CANADA – Plastic Bank has collected the equivalent of 10 billion plastic bottles, approximately 200,000 tonnes of plastic waste, since its 2013 founding, with more than 68,500 collectors across six countries contributing to the effort through a blockchain-verified recycling model that turns waste into income.

The Vancouver-based social enterprise announced the milestone on 31 July 2026, revealing that collectors have recovered an average of 2.1 million plastic bottles daily over the past 13 years. 

Plastic Bank operates collection networks in Brazil, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, where individuals exchange collected plastic for income and life-changing benefits. 

Founder David Katz stated that what started as a vision to use plastic as a currency has become a global movement, with collectors using additional income to cover everyday expenses, medical care, children’s education, and business repairs. 

How the Social Plastic Model Transforms Waste into Economic Opportunity

Plastic Bank’s model incentivizes collection by paying above-market prices for plastic waste, which is then verified through a blockchain platform that ensures transparency and traceability. 

The collected material is reprocessed into Social Plastic, a feedstock that can be reintegrated into new products and packaging, creating a circular economy. 

The initiative has partnered with major global brands including SC Johnson, Coca-Cola Philippines, Acer, Henkel, L’Oréal, and Procter & Gamble, which purchase Plastic Credits to offset their plastic footprint and support collection efforts. 

The verification process confirms that collectors have received an above-average price for the plastic waste, ensuring fair compensation and empowering local communities.

The Scale of the Ocean Plastic Challenge

Despite the milestone, CEO David Katz emphasised that the challenge remains significant, with an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic entering the oceans annually, equivalent to one refuse truck’s load every minute. 

Plastic Bank continues to support the World Wide Fund for Nature’s plastics programme, launched in 2018, which aims to eliminate new plastic leakage into the environment by 2030.

The social enterprise has already stopped over 99 million pounds of plastic waste from entering the world’s oceans, with collection pace accelerating as the network expands.

Plastic Bank has also introduced collection bins into schools and employs ambassadors to promote environmental education, embedding recycling practices in local communities.

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