Research and Development Foundations

This toolkit serves as a foundational guide for researchers, recyclers, students, labs, community-based organisations, and technical consultants aiming to start or improve recycling initiatives.

Based on the Flipflopi project’s experience in Lamu, Kenya, we highlight practical approaches for addressing the challenges of plastic recycling, including identification, sorting, and contamination, within low-tech and resource-limited settings.

It provides a foundational guide for those looking to start or improve recycling efforts, offering a comprehensive overview of the research setup, procedures, and techniques used by the Flipflopi team.

The toolkit reflects lessons learned and offers adaptable methods to help others overcome similar challenges in diverse contexts.

While this is one approach, it’s important to note that there are many possible paths, and other methods may work better depending on your context.

For technical consultants, this toolkit serves as a resource for advising others in setting up recycling operations or conducting R&D in the recycling sector.

Why this toolkit?

Plastic recycling is complex and challenging, mainly due to the wide variety of plastics and the difficulties in processing them.

Key challenges include:

Misclassification – Plastics are categorised into types 1-7, but these classifications are often incorrect due to differences in properties and regional regulations.

Diverse formulations – Plastics contain different monomers, additives, agents, and pigments, which affect how they behave in recycling.

Exposure to external conditions – Before reaching a recycling facility, plastics are affected by UV rays, breakage, saltwater, chemicals, and bacteria, altering their properties.

Labour-intensive processes – Sorting, cleaning, identifying, and separating plastics require significant effort and resources.

In our specific context, we have worked through these challenges and developed practical solutions. We believe that many regions face similar issues, and by sharing our experiences, we can learn from each other to improve plastic recycling worldwide.

Our context

The Flipflopi project is based in Lamu, an archipelago off the northern coast of Kenya, East Africa. Lamu has no cars, and all transport is done by boat, meaning logistical challenges are common.

The local economy relies on tourism, fishing, and trade, but the island faces significant infrastructural limitations, including a low educational level, frequent power outages, and the lack of a functioning waste collection system – except for the one Flipflopi has built.

The project operates in a low-tech setting with limited resources, using older machinery that requires regular maintenance. Modern machinery is typically unaffordable and needs specialised experts for maintenance, making it challenging to keep up with technological advancements.

What to expect

In this toolkit, you will find the insights we’ve gained, the processes we follow, and how we believe others in similar settings can adapt and replicate these methods. It’s a reflection of our practical experiences, challenges, and successes, as well as our lessons learned in navigating a low-tech, resource-constrained environment.