Abstract Next to every plastic bottle that is widely recyclable in the current selective market, is an abundance of straws, polystyrene boxes, and food packaging, among other plastic types of plastic that are abandoned in the environment and currently not part of the circular economy. With the waste marked dominated by low-value, post-consumer material and less than 10% recycled, TONTOTON is a community-based solution in Cambodia and Vietnam for the management and disposal of all types of plastic, leaving nothing behind. For TONTOTON, a plastic credit represents the collection and treatment of one ton of mismanaged plastic, providing corporations with a solution to take accountability of their consumption, as well as driving funding towards sustaining our frontline, on-the-ground solution. Solely through this financing mechanism, we have been able to create a new market for non-recyclable plastic by providing a stable trade price for previously valueless material which has now benefitted businesses, communities, and the environment. So far 1600 certified tons of ocean-bound plastics have been removed from the coastal environment by 450 local collectors. By combining this practical solution with a community-based approach, the program is able to support vulnerable coastal populations while also empowering people to address the situation in their own villages. Working at a household level to educate families and stop the leakage at the source, 80% of participants have changed their disposal habits and stopped dumping rubbish or actively reduced their consumption. Plastic credits are a key piece of the puzzle towards shared plastic responsibility, fast becoming a standardized tool in environmental protection and supporting marginalised communities through income generation, access to education, and improved living conditions.
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