COMMUNITY BARRIER
Preventing Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution begins at the local level, in rural areas where 75% of Cambodia’s population lives without adequate waste management systems. Every year, millions of tons leak into rivers and oceans, affecting ecosystems, livelihoods, and global health.
WITHOUT COMMUNITY-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, LARGE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW FROM HOUSEHOLDS INTO RIVERS, OCEANS, AND ILLEGAL DUMPS.
How Plastic Pollution Disproportionaly Affects
Communities and Oceans?
Plastic pollution harms vulnerable families by threatening their health, livelihoods, and food safety, while disrupting ecosystems through toxic leaching, habitat destruction, and harm to wildlife.
Stueng Hav, Cambodia
We turn coastal households and independent waste collectors into
Community Barriers: the first line of defense against plastic pollution.
A Community-First Model
The “Community Barrier” is a human-centered approach that empowers local families to collect all types of plastic waste, including low-value and non-recyclable waste that typically escapes formal recycling systems.
Unlike traditional programmes targeting only high-value plastics, our solution stops pollution at the source by removing plastic waste entirely.
BEFORE
Independent waste pickers
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
Independent waste pickers
Households
BEFORE
AFTER
- Independent waste collectors get PPE, training, and extra income to safely participate in cleanups and collect mismanaged plastics.
- Households receive segregation kits, fair compensation, and support to improve their living conditions, preventing plastic leakage at the source.
The Human Stories behind our
Community Barrier
The Human Stories behind our Community Barrier
Sopheap
Independant Waste Collector at TONTOTON since 2021. “Before TONTOTON, I just stayed at home with the children and sold a few items. I am happy because the efforts are paying off and the amount of plastic in the village has reduced.”
Bopha
“TONTOTON allow me to earn small money from collecting plastic and cleaning the environment. I can buy food for my family. I want the tourist who visit Sihanoukville to see a clean environment, also maybe then, more tourist will come.”
Sopheap
Independant Waste Collector at TONTOTON since 2021. “Before TONTOTON, I just stayed at home with the children and sold a few items. I am happy because the efforts are paying off and the amount of plastic in the village has reduced.”
Bopha
“TONTOTON allow me to earn small money from collecting plastic and cleaning the environment. I can buy food for my family. I want the tourist who visit Sihanoukville to see a clean environment, also maybe then, more tourist will come.”
How It Works
Instead of relying on expensive high-tech devices, families act as the first line of defense, preventing plastic leakage while simultaneously creating social impact through fair income, training, and community empowerment.
Monitoring &
certification
polluted areas
independent waste collectors
empowerment
upcycling, or disposal
types of plastic
polluted areas
independent waste collectors
types of plastic
upcycling, or disposal
empowerment
certification
Environmental & Social Impact
Stop plastic leakage at source
Empower vulnerable communities
Create circular solutions
Scale the Community Barrier.
Stop Plastic Leakage.
Individual Support
Make a real impact: support a family fighting plastic pollution and contribute to healthier oceans. Your choice helps create lasting change.
Business Cooperation
Join us to tackle plastic pollution at the source through a socially inclusive solution. Highlight this measurable impact with certified reports and transparent monitoring.