A Sample Project Proposal on Ocean Conservation and Sustainability through Collecting and Recycling Plastic Waste

General Information

Organization Name: Life for Ocean 

Organizational Profile: Life for Ocean is a registered social enterprise established to address the challenges of plastic pollution in marine environment. Life for Ocean has been relentlessly working on fostering marine conservation and environmentalism through educating the public about the risks of marine plastic pollution, the organization encourages beach-goers to take just three pieces of rubbish before leaving the beach and places near any waterways. Moreover, Life for Ocean’s volunteers have been   working  for the last 10 years to collect  plastics that pollutes our waterways, making our coasts cleaner and our ocean healthier. As millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year, this initiative believes in turning small endeavors into big results to protect our oceans from plastic pollution. Moreover, the organization also dedicates itself for advocating for policy changes for  maintaining vibrant ocean wildlife.

 Responsible Person:………………………., Tel: +……………., Mail: ………….

Project Name: A project Proposal on Ocean Conservation and Sustainability through Collecting and Recycling Plastic Waste

Location of the Project: Indian Ocean (Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat in Gujarat, India)

 

                                

                                                                                                                                                             1.1.          Executive Summary

The issue of ocean plastic is one of the important issues on the global policy agenda, as evidenced in the UN adoption of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 – part of which calls for action to address marine pollution. According to UN (United Nations), reports between 23 and 37 million metric tons of plastics flowing into the ocean every year, which is alarming for the sustainable marine biodiversity. There are now 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of plastic in our ocean and 46,000 pieces in every square mile of ocean, weighing up to 269,000 tons. Every day around 8 million pieces of plastic makes their way into our oceans.

The goal of the project is to collect and produce recycled plastic materials initially in Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat in Gujarat , India and later spread and implement the project to other areas of Indian Ocean  as well as world's other oceanic  expanses.  The main objective of the project is to make ‘Plastic Free Oceans.’ Under this project, waste plastic materials will be collected from the Indian Ocean and recycled for the conservation and sustainability of the ocean.

In this light, Life for Ocean proposes a project on collecting and recycling waste plastics from Indian Ocean with the following initiatives as well as adopting some other activities for the prevention of plastic pollution in ocean:

1.      To collect and proper handling of plastic waste, recycling process & production of new plastic items like,

a.      To use collected plastic from the oceans and follow a simple manufacturing technique known as injection moldings to convert shredded and melted plastic into durable and environment-friendly plastic lumber, roofing tiles, and pavements.

b.      To make chips and granules through extrusion procedure in order to produce diverse plastic items like trash bags, packing materials, bottles, and so on.

 

2.      To create awareness about the hazard and detrimental effects of the discarded plastics through different activities. Life for Ocean will put emphasis on ‘awareness’ as behavioral change of plastics consumption (plastics consumption to be reduced).

3.      Liaison with government, national and international NGOs, civil society, and other stakeholders in order to work towards healthy marine environment through implementing Global Marine Litter and Micro plastics which calls for consolidation of actions to prevent, manage and minimize impacts of waste from land-based sources to the marine environment

2.1     Background and Justification

Plastic pollution in oceans and other bodies of water continues to grow sharply and could more than double by 2030, according to an assessment by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).The report highlights dreadful consequences of plastic for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. It also states a drastic reduction in unnecessary, avoidable and problematic plastic, is crucial to addressing the global pollution crisis overall since plastic contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout its lifecycle, the fact that extreme weather events such as floods carry and disperse plastic waste and have the detrimental effect on both climate change and on the lives of marine animals.

Conservation and sustainable use of the world’s oceans are recognized in UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life below Water). Many countries, international organizations and companies are manufacturing or using plastics have stated their importance given to conserving and protecting the oceans, recognizing the significance of the ocean environment for the economy and climate regulation. It is high time to work with collaboration for a climate-neutral blue economy and to the objectives for protecting marine biodiversity and pollution free seas and oceans in the Zero pollution action plan for air, water and soil.

Without significant action, there may be more plastic than aquatic animals and plants in the ocean by weight by 2050. Overall, the natural capital cost of marine plastic pollution for the consumer goods industry alone is estimated to be at least 4.7 billion per year. To effectively address the problem, we must close the tap and avert valuable plastic waste from flooding into the ocean in the first place. Collecting, recycling and reuse of plastic materials are the most effective actions available to reduce the plastic pollution in marine environment.

 In order to protect oceans from plastic waste, Life for Ocean will collect plastics through 5 different teams (each team consists of 5 workers) at different points of Indian Ocean of Gujrat province and 2 teams (each team consists of 10 members) will be dedicated   to bring the plastic items at the recycling plant. About 100 disadvantaged people will be appointed in the plant for the production of different recycled plastic materials as well as 30 people will be appointed for carrying out the marketing process.

3.1.          Project Summary 

3.1.1.      Project Planning

A comprehensive project plan has been prepared to cover the startup period 2022 -2042 for Ocean Conservation and Sustainability initially in Indian Ocean later in other oceanic expanses.  ‘Life for Ocean’ will appoint a number of individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups who will collect plastic waste materials (8 – 12 tons / day) from the certain areas of Indian Ocean of India - Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat , Gujarat and  bring and recycle them in the plant in order to produce eco-friendly plastic lumber, roofing tiles, and pavements as well as other products like trash bags, packing materials, bottles through extrusion process.

For producing recycled products from plastic waste, we will use a simple manufacturing technique which is known as injection moldings to convert shredded and melted plastic for  the production of plastic lumber, roofing tiles, and pavements as well as  follow a extrusion process to make chips and granules in order to produce diverse plastic items like trash bags, packing materials, bottles, and so on , which will be sold in the market  in order to meet specific customer requirements .The strategy is to create economic value of plastics as well as to create an opportunity for the disadvantaged and economically vulnerable people to make a significant contribution towards protecting the  marine environment and creating a more sustainable future.

Constructing two storied recycling plant in the own land of Life for Ocean is imminent with the received grant from the Funding the Ocean Foundation. The organization has already signed a deal with the local bodies for water, electricity, and other facilities for the plant. Machineries, transports, nets, and other logistic supports will be required for the collection and recycling process which will be bought from the adjacent markets of the plant as well as from Alibaba Group (an online platform for buying diverse apparatuses, transports, and other products). The project will commence after ensuring all the resources.

A part from collecting and recycling ocean plastics, Life for Ocean will make liaison with government, NGOs, civil society, and other stakeholders in order to implement UNEA-4 Resolutions on Single-use Plastics, Protection of the Marine Environment from land-based activities as well as resolution on Global Marine Litter and Microplastics which calls for strengthening of activities to prevent, manage and minimize impacts of plastic waste from land-based sources to the marine environment. The Initiative is directly related to SDG 14.1, which by 2025, seeks to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities.

Moreover, Life for Ocean will organize a number of campaigns, education and other programs in collaboration with government, NGOs, civil society in order to shape and encourage changes in consumer behavior to avoid plastic products. It is instead best achieved through embedding messaging in regular didactic practices and school curriculums from a very young age. Public awareness strategies can include a wide range of activities intended to induce and educate the mass citizens about the detrimental effects of discarded plastic materials and encourage using eco-friendly recycled plastic materials. The following activities will be carried out by Life for Ocean to avoid plastic materials, the harmful impact of plastic on environment and economic segment, and encourage using recycled plastic materials:

1.                     Educational programmes

2.                     Workshops in schools

3.                     Extensive multi-media awareness-raising campaigns (TV, radio, newspapers, social media). 

4.                     Door-to-door campaigns 

5.                     Development and distribution of information material.

6.                     Showcasing and/or distributing alternative options to single-use plastics and recycled plastic products

 

3.1.2. Land and Plant

Life for Ocean has its own 90 decimals land where it has already started to build a 2 storied plant with the received grant from the Funding the Ocean Foundation for recycling process of plastics. The plant is situated adjacent to the head office of Life for Ocean. The plant is in a decent space and very close to the Indian Ocean of Gujrat, where we can keep all the waste plastics apart from equipment and utilities. A large space will be dedicated for dumping plastic waste while a clean space will be used to keep the recycled product. In the constructed two storied plant, ground floor will be used for producing durable and environment-friendly plastic lumber, roofing tiles, and pavements and the first floor for producing chips and granules through extrusion procedure in order to produce diverse plastic items like trash bags, packing materials, bottles, and so on.

3.1.3. Plastic Products Include

3.1.3.1. Domestic Waste (food containers, packaging foam, disposable cups, plates, cutlery, CD and cassette boxes. fridge liners, vending cups, electronic equipment cases, drainage pipe, carbonated drinks bottles, plumbing pipes and guttering, flooring. cushioning foams, thermal insulation foams, surface coatings, etc.)

3.1.3.2. Wires and Cables

3.1.3.3. Automobile Wrecking: The MSW collected plastics waste is mixed one with major components of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate etc.

3.1.3.4. Industrial Plastic Waste Industrial plastic wastes (so-called primary Waste) are those arising from the large plastics manufacturing, processing and packaging industry. The industrial waste plastic mainly constitute plastics from

a)      Construction and Demolition companies (e.g. polyvinyl chloride pipes and fittings, tiles and sheets)

b)     Electrical and Electronic Industries and Industrial Plastic Waste (e.g. switch boxes, cable sheaths, cassette boxes, TV screens, etc.)

c)      The automotive industries spare-parts for cars (such as fan blades, seat coverings, battery containers and front grills). Most of the industrial plastic waste have relatively good physical characteristics i.e. they are sufficiently clean an

3.1.3.5. Disposable Plastics

a)      Coffee cups

b)     Soft drink bottles

c)      Toiletry containers, i.e. shampoo, shower gel, etc

d)     Thread protectors for oil drilling tubes

e)      Carrier bags

f)       Bread bags

g)      Car bumpers

h)     Chemical drums

i)        Chemical bags

j)        Shrink wrap

k)      Cling film

l)        Food packaging m)

m)   Cooking oil containers

n)     Yoghurt pots 

o)     Milk bottles

3.1.4. Process of Recycling

Recycling is reprocessing of the used plastics to form new similar products. The proposed type is a type of primary and secondary recycling of plastic where the homogeneous waste plastic will be converted into products with nearly the same or less performance level than the original product. Moreover, the dissimilar plastic will also be recycled for the production of other products like plastic lumber, roofing tiles, and pavements

3.1.5. Mechanism and Capacity of Unit

The Proposed Unit shall handle all kinds of plastic upto 800 – 1000 kgs per hour. The plant shall run 8 – 9 Hrs / day and 325 working days in a year except government holidays. On and average, the unit can handle 6 – 10 Metric Tons per day.

3.1.6. Products and Market

Environment- friendly recycled plastic lumber, roofing tiles, pavements, trash bags, packing materials, bottles, and so on will be produced to meet the current demand. We intend to expand sales and marketing efforts countrywide. We are confident that we will be able to sell 85% of products within the nation with the remaining 15% catering for the regional markets. We will create even more job opportunities in collection, transport, retailing and installation. The recycled plastic products will be used in - 

●                      Building and Construction Industry

●                      Packaging Units / Plastics Manufactures

●                      In Roads Construction

3.1.7. Project Monitoring and Evaluation

 A Project coordinator will be appointed on a contract basis under whom a number of employees will be appointed to ensure that monitoring and reporting of the project progress is conducted on a monthly basis. A project risk management and mitigation plan will be compiled.

3.1.8. Probable Profit

It is estimated that there shall be 15% - 20% increase in the profit by the project. The project shall have sustainability in the long run besides salaries and miscellaneous. It is estimated that the project will have growth from the second year as the team get expertise in the market and shall try to increase capacity building. After all the expenditures, the profit will be deposited in order to implement similar projects in other oceanic expenses for the conservation and sustainability of the ocean.

3.1.9. Implementing Agency and Management of Project

 Life for Ocean will be responsible for the implementation of the project from appointing employees, buying apparatuses , transports, and other logistics, salary dissemination , marketing process to other necessary activities in order to run the project efficiently. Other Departments such as the Department of Water and Sanitation, Provincial Departments of Environmental Affairs, Municipalities, the private sector and NGO’s will be engaged to bring-in their roles throughout the project. The Department will investigate and establish an appropriate project implementation platform, which will be represented by key interested and affected parties.

4.1. Project Finance and Planning

Currently we are seeking US $4,646,776.00 in financing to acquire high capacity technology capable of producing environmentally friendly recycled plastic products and to carry out other different activities.

4.1.1.      Machinery, Infrastructure and Installation

Plastic Shredder	2 Units	$ 6,800.00
Plastic Crusher	2 Units	$10,800.00
High Speed Mixer	2 Units	$8,000.00
Pulverizer	2 Units	$26000.00
Granulating Recycle Machine	2 Unit	$160,000.00
Biodegradable Plastic Recycling Machine	2 Units	$30,000.00
PP Woven Bag Washing Line	1 Unit	$120,000.00
Waste Bottle Crushing	1 Unit	$60,000.00
Bottle Flakes Pelleting Line	1 Unit	$38,500.00.00
50 HP AGG50	2 Unit	$10760.00
Automated Plastic Washing Machine	2 Units	$63,200.00
LCB & Spares for Washing Unit	2 Units	$5,000.00
Extruder EXTS200	1 Units	$50,000.00
Die Face Cutter	1 Unit	$60,000.00
Water Tank	1 unit	$1,300.00
Water treatment plant	1 unit	$5,300.00
Electrification/ Installation	1 time	$2000.00

Total (A)                                                                                                         $4,469,160                                                                                              

Safety Tools / Shoes/ Uniforms	200 pairs	$6725.00
Drums / Tins / Packaging Material	300 Sets	$5380.00
Waste Water Pipe Line	1 time	$30,000.00
Industrial Trolley	50 units	$2,500.00
Weighing Machine	4 units	$60.00
Nets	500 pieces	$114.00

Total (B)                                                                                                           $44,779                                                                                                            

4.1.2. Logistics / Transport

Speed Boat	2 units	$75,000
Mini Van /	3  units	$18,000
Rickshaw Van	4 units	$300

  Total (C)                                                                                                          $93,300                                                                                               

4.1.3.      Budget for Campaigns, Education and other Programs:

Educational programmes	20	$2017.00
Workshops in schools	30	$2690.00
Extensive multi-media awareness-raising campaigns (TV, radio, newspapers, social media).	15	$1345.00
Development and distribution of information material	5000 Pieces	$4035.00

  Total (D)                                                                                                                    $10,087.00

4.1.4.      Budget for Making Liaison with Government, National and International NGOs, Civil Society, and other Stakeholders

Meetings	20 Numbers	$2690.00
Logistics		$1000.00
Communication Materials		$1200.00
Venue	5 Places	$2000.00
Food and Beverage		$500.00

 Total (E)                                                                                                           $10,087.00

4.1.5.      Budget for Official and other Expenditure ( First Year)

Salary of Project Coordinator	1 Person	$ 7,060.00
Salary of the Project Employees	5 Persons	$12,000.00
Travel Cost		$1000
Others	5 Places	$2000

 Total (F)                                                                                                           $22060.00

4.1.6.      Sub-Total: $4,646,776.00 

5.1. Need Statement

The Plastic Products made from recycled plastic waste help in:

5.1.1. Besides cleaning the Indian Ocean, the project has financial feasibility. The profit or revenue which Life for Ocean will make after all expenditure from the recycled products will be used to implement similar projects in different oceanic areas around the world since as a non-profit organization the mission of Life for Ocean is to  make ‘Plastic Free Oceans’ in order to protect marine biodiversity. 

5.2. Direct Beneficiaries

5.2.1 The project will be a good platform for poverty alleviation through creating employment opportunities for the disadvantaged people.

5.3. Indirect Beneficiaries

 5.3.1. Oceans and Mother Earth will be the indirect beneficiaries as they will not get polluted through collection and recycling of plastic waste.

5.3.2. Local Environment

This proposed Recycling Project will contribute to a cleaner local environment, preserving pure surface and groundwater, healthy soils, and clean air. Significantly, a clean local environment will immediately benefit the most vulnerable groups of society whose livelihoods often depend on the natural resources available locally.

5.3.3. Micro-Entrepreneurship

 The project will encourage the local communities for the start-up of micro-enterprises in recycling, e.g. recycling of paper, Tetra Pak cartons, Pet bottles, and so on in future.

5.3.4. Conservation of Petroleum
Another benefit of recycling plastic is conservation of petroleum, which is getting scarce. Large amount of petroleum is needed for making new plastic products, and around 40% of the petroleum consumption can be reduced by recycling old and discarded plastic.

5.3.5. The benefits of recycling plastic include a decrease in the emission of greenhouse gases. In other words, greenhouse gases are emitted while burning petroleum, and if the amount of petroleum used in making plastic is reduced through recycling, the emission of these gases will also reduce.
5.3.6. One of the important environmental benefits of recycling plastic waste is that it will save animals, birds, and a wide range of aquatic creatures from death due to ingestion of plastic.
6.1. Logical Framework

	Narrative	Indicators	Means of Verification	Assumptions
Goal/Impact	Collect and produce recycled plastic materials initially in Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Khambat in Gujarat, India and later spread and implement the project to other oceanic expanses of the world	Plastic dump rates to Ocean.       -Number of wastes (ton) collected from the oceans to recycle. -Number of recycled items generated. - Number of Educational programs arranged. - Number if Workshops in schools. - Number of Extensive multi-media awareness-raising campaigns (TV, radio, newspapers, social media). - Number of Door-to-door campaigns - Number of Development and distribution of information material. - Number of Showcasing and/or distributing alternative options to single-use plastics and recycled plastic products   - Number of sessions with  Govt      and the stakeholders sharing the      issues of oceans plastics      collection and recycling.     - Amount of revenue generated   .	Oceanic survey.       -Waste store logbook. -Waste collection van register book. -Field team register. - Production house log/register. - Attendance sheet. - Meeting resolution. - Photo/Video. - Press release. - Account statement. - IEC materials	- Budget available - People motivated to    cooperate - Naturally and politically stable environment.   - Stakeholder’s   cooperation. - Positive revenue.
Outcomes	Long-term: Plastic Free Oceans   Short-term: -     Number of plastics reduced in the oceans. -     Increased awareness relating to hazard and detrimental effects of the discarded plastics through emphasis on ‘awareness’ as behavioral change of plastics consumption -     Increased Liaison with government, national and international NGOs, civil society, and other stakeholders. -     Economic revenue generation to replicate this project in the other geographic locations.
Outputs	-  Monthly plastic collection and            characterization report     -  At least 2 community          awareness raising events and         at least 2 schools outreach         and programs or activities per        year     -  At least 2  print and 2         electronic media coverage        about marine waste plastic           management and other harmful         impacts of discarded plastics  per         year       - Analyze current policy to discuss           policy solutions       - Monthly project and Stakeholder            Progress meetings held       - Monthly profit or revenue collection            report
Activities	- A number of teams will be          employed to collect plastic        waste and categorize homogenous        and heterogeneous plastic waste       - A dedicated trained team          will be engaged to organize and         conduct awareness raising events - Host at least 2 schools outreach and   programs or activities per year  - Develop materials  for media coverage that will also be used in the pilot project as well as in the further national rollout - A dedicated trained team will be engaged to make liaison with different stakeholders and organize and conduct meetings with them     - The account section will         review the revenue per          month

7.1. Conclusion

Life for Ocean comes forward for collecting ocean plastic and recycling for ocean conservation and sustainability since without urgent action, the estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic currently entering the ocean annually will triple in the next twenty years. Life for ocean strongly believes that we are all in this together, and together, we can, we must solve the marine plastic pollution in the oceans. It is not just an origination but a service to marine biodiversity. The organization also feels that it can deal with the management 100% efficiently. Upon having sources and assistance, surely, the organization will attain the best results in the collecting and recycling process of plastic waste.