Save a paradise island from drowning in plastic

Since our last update, the work at the Siargao Recycling Art Studio has continued at full speed. While plastic waste remains one of the island’s biggest environmental challenges, our team is steadily proving that much of this waste can be transformed into useful materials and products.

Between December 2025 and February 2026, our small team processed approximately 1,000 kilograms of plastic and styrofoam waste every month. In total, nearly 3,000 kilograms of waste were diverted from the environment during this period.

For an island where most plastic still ends up in landfills or is burned, every kilogram recovered matters.

Recycled Plastic Building a Learning Space

One of the most meaningful milestones during this period has been the completion of the main Kids Club building in Burgos.

The entire foundation of the building was constructed using our eco hollow blocks made from recycled plastics and styrofoam. Seeing waste transformed into the base of a safe learning space for children is one of the strongest examples of how circular solutions can benefit both people and the environment.

We are now continuing this work by building a durable and decorative perimeter fence, also using upcycled blocks produced at the studio.

Growing Production of Upcycled Products

Alongside our construction materials, our team continues to produce a wide range of upcycled items that give plastic a second life.

During this reporting period, the studio produced:

• 100 bean bags

• 4 hammock chairs

• 30 pillows

• 135 souvenirs including keychains and other small items

These products help sustain the studio while demonstrating the creative possibilities of recycled materials.

Strengthening Partnerships

A particularly exciting development has been our growing collaboration with Plastic Kitchen, a group focused on plastic recycling innovation.

Through this partnership, new equipment—including a sheet press and cooling system—has been introduced to the studio. These tools will allow us to experiment with producing interior materials and furniture from recycled plastic sheets.

We also began working with Envirocare, sourcing some pre-shredded plastic to help streamline certain stages of our production process.

Additionally, representatives from the local government units of Dapa, Del Carmen, and Burgos visited the studio to explore how similar solutions could support waste management efforts across the island.

Challenges of Island Recycling

Operating a recycling workshop on a tropical island continues to bring unique challenges.

One of the biggest obstacles remains collecting enough clean plastic. Many households are still unfamiliar with the need to wash and dry plastic before recycling, meaning a large part of our work involves education and community outreach.

Our equipment also requires constant maintenance. Fluctuating electricity and extremely high humidity during the rainy season—sometimes reaching 97% humidity—put significant strain on machines and electronics.

Despite these conditions, our team of four dedicated staff members continues to keep the studio running and materials moving through the recycling process.

Looking Ahead

We are currently applying for a small grant that would allow us to upgrade parts of our recycling system. This would help us accept semi-dirty plastics and significantly increase the speed of producing eco hollow blocks.

At the same time, we hope to deepen our collaboration with Plastic Kitchen to develop new recycled plastic materials and expand the types of products we can create.

Every improvement helps us process more waste—and move Siargao one step closer to a circular economy.

Thank You

Your support allows this small but determined team to keep plastic out of landfills and oceans while building practical solutions for island communities.

Together, we are proving that plastic waste does not have to be the end of the story.

It can become the beginning of something new.

With gratitude,
Sanne Sevig
Founder, Nature Kids of Siargao