The Philippines plastic crisis is deeply intertwined with poverty, economic structures, and global waste exports.
Lorme and her husband Tony hand over the plastic they collected to be recycled in Manila, Philippines, December 04, 2024. Photo by Xyza Cruz BacaniA portrait of Marita Blanco and her granddaughters inside their home in Manila, Philippines, December 04, 2024. Photo by Xyza Cruz BacaniNenita Naturan outside her home surrounded by recyclables in Manila, Philippines, December 05, 2024. Photo by Xyza Cruz BacaniMarita Blanco supervise the collection of plastic from used appliances at the plastic collection site she managed in Manila, Philippines, December 05, 2024. Photo by Xyza Cruz BacaniLorme and her husband Tony speaks to their neighbors outside her store in Manila, Philippines, December 04, 2024. Photo by Xyza Cruz BacaniLorme carries bags of plastic bottlles inside the plastic collection site she managed outside her store in Manila, Philippines, December 04, 2024. Photo by Xyza Cruz BacaniCollected plastics weighed outside the plastic collection site in Manila, Philippines, December 04, 2024. Photo by Xyza Cruz BacaniA truck collects plastic for recycling in Manila, Philippines, December 04, 2024. Photo by Xyza Cruz Bacani