C4R

Caribbean Refuse - Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

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Graphic showing a recycling loop with a map of Haiti in the center, including icons for waste, restrictions, and recycling, connected by arrows.

The Caribbean Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (C4R) project, led by Searious Business and funded by the Advancing Circular Economy (ACE) Facility of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, unites partners across the region to tackle plastic pollution at its source. Working with Vytal Dominican Republic and Vytal Global GmbH on reusable packaging systems, and with Renew Saint Lucia, Plastic Solutions Ltd., Triple Benefit, and Michelle Headley on recycling innovation, the project empowers island communities in Saint Lucia and the Dominican Republic to advance circular solutions and keep plastic out of the ocean.

Plastic Waste in Paradise

A landscape of a landfill with scattered trash in the foreground, green trees behind, and hills in the distance under a clear sky.

Every year, hundreds of tonnes of plastic waste threaten the Caribbean’s coral reefs, marine life, and livelihoods. In the Dominican Republic, over 70% of coastal plastic waste ends up in informal dumps or the ocean. In Saint Lucia, more than 800 tonnes leak into the environment annually. With tourism and coastal living on the rise, these small island nations face a big challenge — but also a powerful opportunity to lead in circular solutions.

🌎 Countries: Dominican Republic & Saint Lucia
🕒 Duration: 30 months (2025–2027)
💰 Budget: USD 1.14 million
🤝 Funded by: The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund through the Advancing Circular Economy (ACE) Facility, funded by KfW Development Bank on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ).
⚙️ Implemented by: Searious Business and partners

Project Factsheet

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Year 1 progress

Project launch

C4R launched in SLU and the DR
Stakeholders engaged & partnerships formed
Implementation strategy agreed with partners and governments

Partnerships & agreements

Saint Lucia: Host chosen for Shared Recycling Hub.
Agreements signed with local recyclers.
Talks have begun with waste authorities to boost plastic collection.

Recycling Hub established in St Lucia

Recycling machinery relocated.
Shared hub established at Plastic Solutions.
Training, booking, and shared-infrastructure systems.

Reuse system scaled in DR

Reusable food-container system reinforced.
Shift to corporate catering/B2B.
Digital tracking and ops optimisation added. Ready for expansion beyond Santo Domingo.

Washing infrastructure upgraded

Commercial dishwasher and drying equipment added.
Cleaning capacity increased to support scaling of reuse operations.

New products explored

Consulted hotels, retailers, builders and waste processors.
Identified recycled product markets.
Began prototype development.

Policy & readiness work

Readiness check for reuse in SLU.
Government involvement.
Identified policy gaps, barriers, and ways to implement.
Drafting policy recommendations and action plans.

Capacity building & awareness

Training local entrepreneurs.
Stakeholder workshops and consultations.
Awareness and communication to support adoption of circular solutions.

Metal shelving unit with green plastic dishes and bowls stacked on three shelves.

Reuse in Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, C4R will replace single-use food packaging with a smart, reusable system. Together with Vytal Dominican Republic and Vytal Global GmbH, the project will introduce reusable containers equipped with QR codes to track use, return, and cleaning. Restaurants and cafés in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata will be able to offer take-away meals without the waste. By building local infrastructure, training businesses, and engaging consumers, this initiative aims to eliminate 15 tonnes of virgin plastic annually and spark a reuse revolution across the Caribbean.

A man in a gray shirt and safety gloves uses a tool on a large piece of textured blue material on a table, while several other people in blue shirts observe and take pictures, inside a workshop with wooden and metal walls and some trees visible outside.

Recycling in St Lucia

In Saint Lucia, C4R will strengthen local recycling by transforming plastic waste into valuable new products. Working with Renew Saint Lucia, Plastic Solutions Ltd., Triple Benefit, and Michelle Headley, the project will expand and upgrade a shared recycling hub capable of processing 160,000 kg of plastic per year. Collected HDPE and PP plastics will be cleaned, shredded, and pressed into durable items like furniture and construction materials. Through training, innovation, and community collaboration, Saint Lucia will lead the way in turning waste into opportunity for a circular Caribbean.

A simple line drawing of a tall building with five floors and a door, with two palm trees nearby, surrounded by a circle with arrows, on a black background.

The two pilots are designed to complete the circle. The reusable takeaway containers introduced in the Dominican Republic will be made from the same recyclable plastics—HDPE and PP—processed in Saint Lucia’s waste-to-product facility. This investigates an EoL solution for the containers. Insights from the reuse system will inform the development of similar models in Saint Lucia, creating a scalable blueprint for circular plastic solutions across the Caribbean.

This project is supported by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund through the Advancing Circular Economy (ACE) Facility, funded by KfW Development Bank on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ).