Residents of Muntinlupa barangay swap trash for rice in fight against plastics

One barangay is trying to tackle the scourge of plastic waste by offering rice to residents in exchange for their trash.

Residents of Bayanan, Muntinlupa can get one kilo of rice for every two kilos of plastic waste, which are handed over to the government for proper disposal or recycling.

Residents of Bayanan, Muntinlupa like Veronica Dolorico (above) trade in their plastic trash for rice. Screengrabs from Reuters video

The Philippines is among the world's top marine plastic polluters, studies show, with laws on solid waste poorly enforced and no regulations on packaging manufacturing.

"I weighed in at 14 kilos of residuals, so I got 7 kilos of rice grains. This is a big help for us to have one kilo of rice for the day," Veronica Dolorico, a 49-year-old supporter of the program, told Reuters.

"I feel that our surroundings are really dirty. If only I could, I would pick up all the plastics along the road when I walk outside," she added.

Bayanan collected more than 213 kg of sachets, bottles and plastic bags in August, said barangay captain Andor San Pedro, adding that the food-for-trash swap is teaching people how to properly dispose of their waste.

"Bigyan mo ng kapalit ang pinaghihirapan nila para masunod ang ating layunin na luminis ang Barangay Bayanan. 'Yun lang ang tamang sistema," San Pedro said.

"Kasi ang ibang tao ngayon eh, pag walang kapalit na binibigay, hindi sila kikilos. So ganun ang naisip namin. Para biglang may pagkain sila, iluluto nila, 'yun lang." — Reuters