This Earth Day, RePlastic Recycle is standing tall for the planet, showing that even in the face of rising global plastic pollution, real solutions can start small—one island, one community, one piece of plastic at a time.
With the call to action “Start Local, Affect Global,” the St. Croix-based company is building scalable, island-first technology to address plastic waste at its source. In the wake of mounting concern—and a recently filed lawsuit by the U.S. Virgin Islands against major beverage companies for the environmental damage caused by plastic packaging—RePlastic Recycle offers a path forward that is both restorative and collaborative.
“We recognize the harm that unmanaged plastic waste causes—on our beaches, in our waters, and in our communities,” says RePlastic CEO and Co-Founder Steve Chmura. “But we also believe in solutions that bring people together. Corporate partnerships can play a powerful role in creating a cleaner, more equitable future. It’s time to turn responsibility into opportunity.”
RePlastic Recycle is deploying its advanced technology modular recycling and manufacturing system. Housed in a 40-foot shipping containers and powered by solar energy, each system uses high-tech optical sensors, AI robotics, and automated sorting to process and transform plastic waste into high-value building materials, such as interlocking construction blocks, roofing tiles, and dimensional lumber.
Each system will soon be capable of processing up to 40,000 pounds of plastic per week—plastic that would otherwise be buried, burned, or end up in the sea.
“Our goal is to keep plastic out of the ocean and landfills—and put it into the hands of communities as usable, durable goods,” says Co-Founder Amy Bowler. “We’re doing it locally, efficiently, and sustainably.”
Collaborating with the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority through a Memorandum of Understanding, and in the final stages of grant funding, RePlastic Recycle is positioned to grow operations in St. Croix and expand to St. Thomas. Future plans to launch pilot sites in the South Pacific are in progress to fulfill the vision of deploying thousands of systems globally.
More than technology, RePlastic is creating education, employment, and environmental equity. With partners like RT Park and the University of the Virgin Islands, the team is launching a STEAM innovation lab for students in advanced technologies, such as AI and robotics, sustainability, and circular manufacturing.
“As islands, we bear the brunt of plastic pollution—but we also have the power to lead the world toward a better way,” Chmura adds. “This Earth Day, we invite governments, NGOs, and yes, even corporations, to join us. Together, we can take real action to clean our coasts, uplift communities, and change the story of plastic for good.”
To learn more or partner with RePlastic Recycle, visit www.replasticrecycle.com.
