Waste plastic is not recycled in Cape Verde but either left in the environment, in streets and on beaches, or collected and burnt in garbage dumps. This is bad for the environment, but also for the health of people. Cape Green Foundation has started a plastic recycling program that involves the local population, especially young people. The project has started in 2026 with the help of Snout Fund and a large private donation, in cooperation with the city council of Tarrafal.

Garbage dumps
beach garbage
Garbage dump Tarrafal


It is our main purpose to increase the awareness of the population regarding the problem of plastic waste and the possibilities of collecting it, thus cleaning the environment, and turning this waste into useful products that can be sold.

explanation of recycling to school pupils
Women learning about recycling
Teacher Sito at work

Students from the secondary school of Tarrafal, groups of women and person involved in tourism will be given ‘plastic awareness’ workshops by a teacher who will be trained by our foundation and appointed and paid for by the city council. The products made from recycled plastic are suitable to be sold to tourists but we will also make products that can be used by the local population such as baskets.

Workspace for recycling
Shredder and Arbor press from Mad Plastic, Portugal
products made from bottle vaps

We have bought a shredding machine, which will shred any type of the seven plastics that are typically used by consumers. We have also bought a machine that melts the shredded plastic and pours it into molds. These machines have been designed and built by MAD Plastic in Portugal by engineers like Carolina Espinoza and Yann Chouvin who were inspired by the Precious Plastic project and worked with this project in a number of African countries. Ton van der Lee, board member of Foundation Cape Green, has been instructed by MAD Plastic how to operate these machines and has transferred this knowledge to local people in Tarrafal.

pupils colected waste plastic
mayor Jose dos Reis
Mayor and teacher Sito


The schools have started to collect plastic for the project. The support from the city Council is very important and the visit from the mayor here pictured with a pendant from recycled plastic was a very important motivator for the participants

basket made from PET bottles
plastic collection at secondary school
workshop member and plastic turtle

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Donations are always welcome to keep our work going. Big or small, we are happy with any donation.

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Stichting Cape Green NL75ABNA0136397409 | BIC/SWIFT ABNANL2A