Turning Waste into Connection and Creation
The Bridges for Plastic project brought together Catfarm residents, local neighbors, and visitors to reimagine plastic waste as a source of creativity, collaboration, and awareness.
Throughout the project, we collected plastic waste around Catfarm and the surrounding area of Poussan using a cargo bike. The materials were then recycled with our Precious Plastic machines and transformed into new, useful objects. What was once seen as waste became a symbol of community empowerment and environmental care.
We believed—and proved—that plastic is not truly waste. With some love, intention, and the right tools, it can be turned into valuable resources. This process united people from different cultural backgrounds, strengthened our connection with the local community, and raised awareness about environmental impact and circular economy practices.
By carrying out the project, we built bridges between Catfarm’s multicultural environment and the people of Poussan, a small town with few opportunities for intercultural exchange. Through shared workshops, open days, and creative recycling sessions, locals and international participants learned from one another, shared stories, and found new ways to collaborate.
One of the most playful elements of the project was the creation of a plastic currency system: for every ten plastic bottles collected, locals received a handmade plastic coin that could be exchanged at Catfarm for experiences such as a dinner, a yoga class, or a handmade product. This small act turned recycling into a joyful and meaningful exchange.
Our Precious Plastic station became a hub for education, creativity, and solidarity. It hosted activities for children, teenagers, local associations, and traders, showing how recycling can be a bridge between people as much as between materials.
Through this project, participants not only learned about plastic transformation and 3D printing, but also experienced the warmth of community living, the power of intercultural learning, and the inspiration that comes from creating something beautiful together.
Bridges for Plastic showed that with care and collaboration, even discarded materials can build lasting connections and spark change.