More than 70MT of plastic containers collected in Baseco through Waste to Wages Project
World Vision’s Waste to Wages Project reported collecting more than 70 metric tons of polyester (Polyethylene terephthalate or PET) type of plastics in Baseco in a span of one year.
That’s nearly 5 average dump trucks of PET!
PET containers are popular commercial and household containers used for juices, mineral water, shampoos and cooking oils.
Manila’s Department of Public Service reported that Baseco, which lies along the coast of Manila Bay, produces 53MT of garbage every day, which poses a threat to Manila’s ocean.
Funded by USAID, Waste to Wages Project aims to decrease water pollution by motivating people in Baseco to recycle and giving them incentives if they do so. Trainings and various activities were also conducted to raise people’s awareness of what they can do to minimize and avoid environmental degradation.
Through the Project, individuals who give a certain kilos of PET are rewarded with grocery items by KABALIKAT, a known environmental organization in Baseco and World Vision’s project partner.
“Ako po ay isang street sweeper pero ang dami ko pong natutunan sa project na ito, kung paano ihandle ang mga basura. Yun pong mga plastic materials na nakukuha ko ay naipapalit ko ng grocery items,” Elizabeth Ampuyas said.
Waste collectors, street sweepers, junk shop owners, recycling shops, government officials and non-governmental organizations were also given trainings to learn about environmental pollution and RA 9003 (Solid Waste Management Act).
Because of these trainings, the Local government of Baseco was motivated further to conduct regular coastal cleanups. Last World Ocean Day, government officials along with World Vision and CITI Foundation employees, and other government agencies in Manila held cleanups along the coast of Manila Bay. The series of clean-up drives in Manila Bay has collected more than 8,000 bags of garbage from January 2019.
“Given the challenging situation in Baseco, World Vision did a great job! Everyone in the community were very engaged and participated in the project. We also thank the [Department of Interior and Local Government] and [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] who also have their fingerprints on the project as well. Hopefully, the things that you’ve learned and the activities that were carried out can be continued into the future,” said Bryan Winston, USAID Development Innovations Group Grants Manager.
“We’ve learned a lot from this project. We hope that our accomplishments here in Baseco will be replicated in other World Vision areas such as in Malabon and Quezon City,” Jun Godornes, Resource Development Director, said during the project’s closing activity held in Quezon City.
Waste to Wages Project is set to continue — this time funded by Procter and Gamble — to schools in Malabon and Quezon City. The partnership will help schools in their solid waste management system. Prior to USAID, Procter and Gamble funded the initial Waste to Wages Project in Baseco.
Leading the closing activity were Waste to Wages Project coordinator Joben Asuncion and Manila’s Program Officer Abigail Bayucan.
