Tangerang, Indonesia; General Trias, Philippines; Nakhon Pathom and Rayong, Thailand; and India
Turning the Tide on Plastics
40.4K TONS OF CO₂ EMISSIONS REDUCED ANNUALLY Inhabitants* Tangerang (Indonesia): 2.27 million General Trias (Philippines): 314,303 Nakhon Pathom (Thailand): 920,030 Rayong (Thailand): 64,256 GDP per capita Tangerang: $5,560 General Trias: $3,270** Nakhon Pathom: $9,080*** Rayong: $29,068*** Geographic area Tangerang: 164 km2 General Trias: 81 km2 Nakhon Pathom: 2,168 km2 Rayong: 17 km2 *location in India to be determined **regional data ***provincial data
THE CHALLENGE
In a move to promote a circular economy and tackle marine plastic pollution, leading global food and beverage brands are ramping up sustainability efforts to increase recycled plastic content in their packaging. The project will support Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global integrated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) manufacturer and recycler, for the expansion and upgrading of its plastic recycling plants in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. These recycling facilities will treat post-consumer PET bottles and convert them into feedstock for new PET bottles or downcycle them into polyester fibers. With better incentives for collection of used PET bottles, waste collectors can help reduce plastics released into the environment. The project’s innovative recycling technologies and process transformations that include energy efficiency, water conservation, waste heat recovery, and integration of renewable energy technologies such as rooftop solar will result to high-impact, low-carbon recycling plants. Targeted to be fully operational by 2022, these upgraded recycling facilities will ensure that a large number of these bottles are diverted from waste annually. The $300 million project is funded through various financiers—$50 million from ADB, $50 million from the ADB-administered Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund, $150 million from the International Finance Corporation, and $50 million from Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft. The blue loan will follow the Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility Blue Bond Guidelines and Green Loan Principles.
Non-degradable, single-use plastics coupled with inefficient solid waste management and inadequate recycling systems have led to growing marine plastic pollution with Asia accounting for more than 80% of the total release of plastic into the ocean.
Co-benefits Economic The increased recycling capacity will result to improved urban infrastructure and employment generation. Environmental The project will contribute to reduced GHG emissions and improved ocean health with less plastic pollution.
Value in waste. Post-consumer PET bottles are sorted for processing into new beverage bottles, polyester fibers, and other applications at Indorama Ventures’ recycling facility in Thailand (photo by IVL).
SOLID WASTE 119