Recyclables may be traded for food, cash at Smokey Mountain center

Residents of Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila may now trade their used plastics for rice or vegetables to reduce waste. 

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the residents may drop their recyclable materials like plastic containers, glass bottles, cans, papers, scrap metals, and others in exchange for money or food at the Eco-Ikot Center. 

The initiative was organized by the non-government organization Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA). 

“Pinaguusapan parati ang polusyon sa Pilipinas. Gusto natin ipakita na ang Pilipinas ay isa ring lugar ng mga solusyon - simpleng paglinis, paghiwalay. Pwede niyong dalhin dito for e-cash, you can get points, pwede din po kayo makakuha ng bigas, gulay, at iba pa,” said Antoinette Taus, CORA executive director. 

(Pollution is a hot topic in the Philippines. We want to prove to everyone that the Philippines is also capable of providing solutions such as simple cleaning, and waste segregation. You can drop your waste for e-cash, you can get points, and you can get rice, vegetables, and others.) 

World Bank data showed that the Philippines contributes 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually. Of this, 20% are found in the oceans.  

The Eco-Ikot Center makes sure that donated recyclables are dry and clean. 

“Dapat malinis po tsaka di po siya basa. Importante po na tanggalin yung mga tape niya kasi nakakasira po ito sa machine,” said one of the staffers at the center. 

(It should be clean and dry. It’s also important to remove the tapes so they will not damage the machine.) 

The donated scraps are weighed and there are corresponding points per kilo. 

“Ang ating clear PET bottles are P21 per kilo, pero kung ang dala niyo naman ay aluminium nasa P50 per kilo ‘yun,” said Taus. 

Residents said that the cash or food they get in exchange for the scraps are very helpful for their families. 

“Yung mga basura nandiyan po kami para makakuha kami ng pang-expenses [...] Nagkaroon ng ganitong opportunity, meron kang pambili ng bigas, pambili ng ulam,” said resident Oscar Canlas. 

The Eco-Ikot Center is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Korea International Cooperation Agency.

“You need to have local communities to be supportive of and included in this is. This is why this project is destined for more success because there’s so much interest in the bayan and local community,” said Paul Brown, USAID environment officer. 

CORA is planning to replicate the Eco-Ikot Center in other localities. —Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News