QC barangay exchanges plastic waste for fish

A barangay in Quezon City has launched a trash-to-cash program, where residents could exchange a kilogram of plastic waste for a kilogram of fish in efforts to boost the local government’s environmental campaign.

Barangay Sto. Niño in Quezon City accepted waste materials such as damaged plastic wares, junk food wrappers, and others in a bid to reduce trash that regularly clog canals in the area.

The materials, which are then sold to junk shops in the area, are exchanged for quality fish products such as pampano, salmon, galunggong (roundscad), and packed fish fillets.

“Ang gusto namin ma-achieve talaga, matulungan ‘yung environment… Bilang pagtugon na rin po sa kakulangan ng pagkain doon sa mga ibang residente namin,” Barangay Sto. Niño kagawad Peter Dumanig said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

(What we really want to achieve is to help the environment… This also serves as a response to the lack of food for some of our residents.)

The collected plastic is sold by the barangay to junk shops and the trash to cash program of the Quezon City LGU. The funds are then used to purchase the fish. 

The project, which is set to also include rice in exchange for waste materials in the coming week, is also supported by the local government through donations.—Jon Viktor Cabuenas and Vonne Aquino/RF, GMA Integrated News