Ocean Recovery Group (ORG), a Florida based social-business enterprise is working to solve the planet’s ocean-bound plastics crisis in the Western Hemisphere, has become the first United States-headquartered company to achieve Zero Plastic Oceans’ Ocean-Bound Plastic certifications for collection, recycling and neutralisation. Neutralisation refers to the collection of non-commercially recyclable OBP in the environment and proving services to offset plastic footprint.
Certification was provided by the independent, internationally operating certification body Control Union Certifications.
The Group’s facility in La Vega, Dominican Republic, is equipped with a 2-ram Max pack baler, 7 vertical balers and 2 complete plastics lines comprised of a friction washer, shredders, sink tanks, steamers and pelletisers. The facility, which started up in February 2022, separates and bales PET, HDPE (natural and colour), PP and LDPE plastics as well as cardboard and paper-grade recyclables.
In 2022, Ocean Recovery Group’s integrated-recycling operation goal is to collect, recycle and neutralise 12,000 Tons of ocean-bound plastic.
The Ocean-Bound Plastic (OBP) certification is designed to encourage the removal of Ocean Bound Plastic from the environment by adding value to effectively collecting and treating it to prevent it from reaching the ocean. It is based on environmental and social requirements and a full verification of the chain of custody for the collection and recycling of OBP until the final product. To achieve the certification, organisations must first prove: OBP plastic waste is collected adequately and ethically; OBP plastic waste is well managed once collected; commercially recyclable OBP waste is traceable until the final product; and, non-commercially recyclable OBP waste is correctly handled, and are thoroughly verified and traceable. In addition, OBP-certified organisations guarantee the respect of social criteria, including a commitment to no child labour, safe working conditions and fair wages for recycling collectors.
“Zero Plastic Oceans welcomes the certification of Ocean Recovery Group to the Ocean Bound Plastic standards for the collection, recycling and neutrality value chains,” said Vincent Decap, Co-Founder of Zero Plastic Oceans. “By choosing to certify these value chains, ORG will bring a concrete solution to the Dominican Republic for both commercially recyclable and no value plastic at the same time, ensuring a cleaner environment and enhanced social benefits to the waste picking communities.”