Plastic Bank runs a bottle-deposit-style system in low-income coastal communities, paying collectors above-market rates and selling the resulting 'Social Plastic' and plastic credits to brands. It reported 190 million kilograms collected by April 2026.
Honest caveat: it is a privately held company headquartered in Vancouver, not a charity. Individual contributions (one-off or monthly membership, via plasticbank.com/faq/) buy collection rather than a tax-deductible donation, and 'plastic credits' have been criticised as a way for brands to offset rather than reduce. Judge it as a service you are buying.
How to start: plasticbank.com/