From a bold experiment in a Cole Bay workspace to a community institution that has recycled over 2,200 kilos of plastic, Perpetual Plastics is proving that one island can change the story of its own waste.
Two years ago, a workspace was quietly opened on Union Road in Cole Bay – part recycling facility, part classroom, part community hub. Few could have predicted how much it would come to matter.
Operating under the EPIC Foundation, Perpetual Plastics has spent those two years doing something quite intricate: Taking plastic that would otherwise end up in a landfill or drifting toward a reef, melting it down, and pressing it into something new – coasters, earrings, pendants, rulers, shovels, bracelets, plant pots. Also, since recently, into much bigger items – useful, beautiful objects – 25 different products and counting, as a new line is in the making.
The method they use – the internationally recognised open-source Precious Plastic system – is part of a global movement to democratise recycling, but the soul of what happens on Union Road is entirely local. Schools from across the island have sent thousands of students through the doors. Hotels, restaurants, marinas, and businesses have become regular drop-off partners. Even cruise line staffers have arrived with bags of plastic, curious to see where it goes.
“Our impact has greatly been made – thanks to your involvement,” the team says simply. It is an understatement. Without that web of contributors including businesses, schools, volunteers and donors, thousands of kilos of plastic waste would have ended up on the landfill or worse.
Perpetual Plastics has also organised and partnered in mangrove and beach clean-ups, hiking and community clean-up events, artisanal markets, and community gatherings, becoming a familiar, welcome presence wherever environmental action is happening.
A local workshop with a global reach
The organisation’s reach has also stretched beyond the island. Training exchanges with sister organisations in Curaçao, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have brought new techniques and new energy back to Cole Bay.
Seven international interns have arrived from abroad and left changed. More than 50 local high school students have fulfilled community service hours here and, by most accounts, found the experience far more memorable than they expected.
Two years in numbers
- 2,200+ kilos of HDPE & PP plastic recycled and transformed into new products
- 2,800+ young people educated through workshops, visits, and community sessions
- 7 international interns hosted from around the world, bringing new skills and energy
- 50+ local high school students completing community service hours at the workspace
- 25+ distinct products now produced using the open-source Precious Plastic method
More than recycling: A community built on inclusion
But the workspace was never only about recycling. From early on, Perpetual Plastics made a commitment to inclusion that sets it apart from most environmental initiatives. Clients from Sister Basilia Center and Guided Living programme at White Yellow Cross Care Foundation attend twice weekly, while clients from Mental Health Foundation participate once a week.
Working relationships with the Department of Labor and the Court of Guardianship provide meaningful pathways for people who have found the traditional job market difficult to enter. The texture of a morning at the workspace – the hum of the machines, the heat of the moulds, people working side by side from radically different walks of life – is something you cannot manufacture with a mission statement.
“We have processed over 2,200 kilos of plastic, but the measure we are most proud of is the people: The volunteers and clients who showed up consistently, and the youth who showed the way for a more sustainable future.” ––Perpetual Plastics Team
As the second anniversary approaches – timed deliberately to coincide with International Plastic Free Day – the team is not inclined to be modest. They have earned a party, and they are throwing one. The celebration on May 23 will bring together local artisans, guest artists, and the broader community that has kept the workspace alive. It is, in the best possible way, exactly what Perpetual Plastics has always been – a gathering of people who believe something good can be made from what the world throws away.
It also marks the launch of a new endeavour, community sustainable crafting days – bringing people together through being creative in a sustainable manner. A project made possible by the Fund for Culture Participation, through SMDF’s ‘Let’s ACT!’ program. The first edition will take place during the 2nd anniversary event, where persons can register, in duos, to participate in a free clay masterclass or an upcycled cloth masterclass. More such masterclasses will continue throughout the year. Through “Let’s ACT!” Perpetual Plastics has hosted an afternoon school program as well, of which said art works will be exhibited during the event.
Contact +17215805240 via WhatsApp to register for a masterclass or enquire about vendor spots.
Save the date
There will be an Anniversary Artisanal Market & Community Celebration from 11:00am to 7:00pm on Saturday, May 23, at Perpetual Plastics at 125 Union Road, Cole Bay (next to Burger King). This event is free and open to all.
The day will feature an artisanal market with local vendors offering arts, crafts, and delicious goodies; an art exhibition presented by the Let’s ACT! after-school programme; free clay masterclass led by a guest artist (open to 8 registered duos); free upcycled cloth masterclass (open to 8 registered duos); anniversary specials and new recycled plastic items.
Perpetual Plastics is a plastic recycling social workspace operating under EPIC Foundation, dedicated to environmental sustainability, community inclusion, and education on Sint Maarten.
