Verra Plastic Waste Reduction Program

Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-11 12:52

Market-based plastic credit standard that assigns monetary value to plastic waste reduction and recycling efforts. Enables companies to fund waste recovery initiatives and demonstrate circularity commitments.

Source: https://verra.org/programs/plastic-program

Funding Details

Funder

Verra

Funding Goal

Enable plastic waste collection and recycling projects to generate and sell Plastic Credits (market-based revenue), scaling up plastic waste reduction globally through a certified standard.

Funding Amount

No direct funding provided. Revenue is generated by selling Plastic Credits (1 credit = 1 metric tonne of plastic collected or recycled above baseline). Market prices for credits vary; Verra does not trade or broker credits.

How to Apply

1. Review eligibility under Plastic Standard v1.0 and applicable methodology. 2. Prepare a Plastic Project Description using Verra's official template. 3. Select and apply Plastic Waste Collection or Recycling Methodology. 4. Engage an accredited Validation/Verification Body (VVB) for independent validation. 5. Submit project listing via the Verra Project Hub. 6. Upon successful validation, register project on the Verra Registry. 7. After monitoring period, submit Monitoring Report and undergo verification to issue Plastic Credits.

Target Region

Global (no geographic restrictions)

Contact

Email: PlasticStandard@verra.org

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:12

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Project must collect and/or recycle plastic or composite materials to be eligible to issue Plastic Credits
• Project proponent must be able to open a Verra Registry account and pass Know-Your-Customer (KYC) background checks

Project Scope

• Project activities must demonstrate additionality — impact must be above what would occur in the absence of the project (baseline rates)
• Project must apply either the Plastic Waste Collection Methodology (PWRM0001) or Plastic Waste Recycling Methodology (PWRM0002)

Required Documents

• Prepare a Plastic Project Description document using the official Verra template (v1.0)
• Submit Plastic Project Monitoring Reports using the official Verra template after each monitoring period

Constraints

• Engage and contract an independent, Verra-accredited Validation/Verification Body (VVB) for project validation and periodic verification
• Program fees apply per the Verra Program Fee Schedule v1.0 (October 2024); review fee impacts before project development

Summary

The Verra Plastic Waste Reduction Program (Plastic Program) is a market-based certification standard that allows plastic waste collection and recycling projects to generate tradeable Plastic Credits. For every metric tonne of plastic collected or recycled above baseline rates, registered projects can issue either Waste Collection Credits (WCCs) or Waste Recycling Credits (WRCs). These credits are sold to corporations and organizations seeking to address their plastic footprint, creating a revenue stream for project operators rather than providing direct grants. To participate, project developers must prepare project documentation using official Verra templates, select an approved methodology (Plastic Waste Collection Methodology or Plastic Waste Recycling Methodology), and undergo independent validation and verification by an accredited Validation/Verification Body (VVB). Once registered on the Verra Registry, all credit issuance and retirement records are publicly available, ensuring transparency and integrity of the credits. The program was launched in February 2021 and accepts new project registrations on a rolling basis with no geographic restrictions. It is governed by the Plastic Program Advisory Group (PPAG), a multi-stakeholder body. Program fees apply as per the Verra Program Fee Schedule (v1.0, October 2024). For organizations with existing plastic waste collection and recycling operations, the Plastic Program offers a path to monetize environmental impact through credit markets. This mechanism can complement traditional grant funding with more sustainable, performance-based revenue — but requires upfront investment in documentation, validation, and ongoing monitoring and verification.

Historical Context

Program development began January 2019 with the Plastic Standard Development Committee (PSDC). Program officially launched February 10, 2021. Fee schedule updated October 2024. Corrections and clarifications to program rules published February 2024, August 2024, and December 2024. Program is actively maintained and open for new project registrations.

Why it was added

Plastic credit mechanism financing waste management and recycling infrastructure, relevant market-based funding tool

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