Rezbin: QR-Coded Reward Bins Tackling the Philippines Ocean Plastic Pollution
- yanabijoor
- Nov 23
- 2 min read
What’s the Problem?
The Philippines contributes 36% of the world’s total plastic pollution to the ocean. It's one of the world’s largest contributors. Most of its population doesn’t have access to convenient and reliable systems for recovering, separating, and recycling plastic waste. There are multiple reasons why it is the largest contributor. The population has poor recycling habits and is not being educated on why plastic should be recycled. This is why plastic has become an environmental and public health hazard in the country.
What is the Solution?
Rezbin was founded in 2023 by siblings Mari Martirez and Mica Martirez. Rezbin installs QR-coded plastic recovery bins in local villages (barangays), schools, offices, hotels, and convenience (sari-sari) stores. These are connected to a mobile app that rewards recyclers with points when they deposit clean and dry plastic into the bins. The idea is to make proper disposal easy, accessible, and motivating, and encourage consumers to use refillable and reusable products.
Why Is It Innovative?
Rezbin combines simple technology, psychological incentives, and community awareness in a way that traditional trash and recycling collection doesn’t. The QR code provides analytics on the impact of plastic recovery, and the reward system provides motivation to get people to repeat their behavior. Plus Rezbin works with recycling facilities to make sure the collected plastic is reused to make things such as tables, phone covers, and vases. This is a great example of an integrated model that supports recycling and reuse simultaneously.
What is the Impact?
In 2024, Rezbin won the ASEAN Startup Award, a $10,000 research grant for its potential to reduce plastic waste at the national level. Rezbin has 70 Rezbins in locations across the Philippines. The company claims its system is 95% less costly than other smart bins and reduces costs by 65% compared to traditional waste-management labor needed to clean and separate plastic. They also claim that their model is 300% more engaging than other recycling programs because of its rewards system.
What Needs Improvement?
Rezbin has to increase the number of bins and their geographical reach, develop the logistics so that the collected plastic reaches its accredited recycling partners continuously and regularly, and keep up the work of improving user experience so that more people are motivated to deposit clean and correctly separated waste. Most importantly, Rezbin needs to help people learn how to reduce their plastic use in the first place.
Sources
https://sustainabilityonline.net/news/the-philippines-is-the-top-contributor-of-ocean-plastic-waste/
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