Make cash out of plastic waste through the 'Aling Tindera' initiative

Single-use plastic has long been an environmental problem, and with COVID-19 and the very valid safety concerns about cross-contamination, it's become an even bigger problem with more people back to using single-use plastic.

Thankfully, there are organizations that are working together to find a long-term strategic solution.

Enter the Aling Tindera program. The Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) has partnered with the Plastic Credit Exchange (PCEx) and launched the intiative to support the cleanup of Manila Bay.

“The conservation of Manila Bay should not come to a halt, while we address the global pandemic," PCEx Chairperson Nanette Medved-Po said in a statement. "We need to collaborate to create long term solutions for the health of our oceans and waterways because it is very much tied to our own health."

 

 

 

 

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Yesterday, July 16, at the City Government of Manila, our founder Nanette Medved-Po and City Mayor of Manila Isko Moreno, introduced the Aling Tindera Program. Under the Aling Tindera program, PCEx incentivizes women-owned sari-sari stores to become collection points for post-consumer plastic waste and establishes the community infrastructure for the aggregating, storing, and efficient transport of the waste to partner processing facilities. Among the many benefits of this project are: increased income opportunities for women micro-entrepreneurs and city residents; a more organized informal sector of waste collectors; cleaner environments and improved health. Thank you to our partners PepsiCo Foundation and SGV & Co’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSs) for supporting this mission.

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Jul 16, 2020 at 10:47pm PDT

According to the statement, the PCEx will be incentivizing fishermen and their families to "catch" plastic waste around Manila Bay and sell them in exchange for cash at Aling Tindera collection points stationed in coastal areas.

It added that the Aling Tindera shops — sari-sari stores owned by women — will be aggregating the plastic before turning it into profit, by selling them through sustainability-conscious companies through the PCEx.

"The Aling Tindera project represents an alternative solution of collecting used plastic packaging. At the same time, it also provides economic incentives to the sari-sari store owners and to their suki," DENR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan said.

 

 

 

 

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In response to the government’s call-to-action on rehabilitating Manila Bay, Plastic Credit Exchange (PCEx) and The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have partnered to roll out a long-term ‘Aling Tindera’ coastal cleanup program. PCEx Chairperson Nanette Medved-Po and DENR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan announced the strategic partnership today over an MOU-signing ceremony held via Zoom. (Photo courtesy of DENR National Capital Region)

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Jul 27, 2020 at 4:54am PDT

DENR data showed that five days of coastal cleanup in the Manila Bay island could yield 16,000 kg of trash, the majority of which are plastic sachets.

Medved-Po encouraged businesses who would like to responsibly offset their plastic footprint  to join the movement.

“It’s only through collective action that we can continuously reduce the flow of plastic into our environment," she said. — LA, GMA News