The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has dished out a creative scheme in a bid to stop the indiscriminate disposal of garbage: Trade recyclable trash for commodities such as canned goods, instant noodles, and rice, among others.
MMDA Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said the new scheme will be implemented following the launch of the agency’s Mobile Materials Recovery Facility (MMRF) and Community Based Takakura Composting, two waste diversion initiatives designed to minimize waste for a greener and healthier Metropolis while promoting segregation and composting in communities.
“Through these initiatives, we hope to teach barangay leaders and residents how they can reduce their waste instead of indiscriminately dumping or throwing their trash along the streets and waterways,” the MMDA chief said at the project’s launch on Thursday dubbed as Balik Kalinga sa Kalikasan Para sa Kaunlaran in Barangay Sto. Rosario Kaunlaran in the municipality of Pateros.
Abalos said that the MMRF, dubbed as “Recyclable Mo, Palit Grocery Ko,” allows residents of a certain barangay to trade their wastes for commodities.
Residents shall surrender recyclable materials such as cartons, glass bottles, papers, and tin cans, etc. to their barangays for the MMRF collection. For every submission of the collected recyclables, residents will earn points that they can use in exchange for certain commodities or grocery items during the scheduled MMRF Market Day.
The earned and redeemed points of each participating resident are all duly recorded in their own Ecosavers Passbook. “Residents are encouraged to collect their recyclable materials in exchange for goods,” said Abalos.
He added that “to ensure compliance to the established safety and health protocols of the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] and each locality, the MMDA will coordinate with the local government units and the barangays prior to the scheduling and operation of the MMRF in their areas.”
Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III, who joined the launch, thanked Abalos for choosing one of their barangays as the project’s pilot area.
“This is an added motivation to encourage households to segregate and recycle their waste. We are grateful to the MMDA for introducing their project to us,” said Ponce.
The MMDA is also eyeing partnership with accredited junk shops to buy the recovered recyclable materials from the barangays and in return, the money will be used to buy the commodities/goods being distributed during MMRF market day.
Abalos also said that the project would increase waste diversion rate, reduce generation of single-use plastics, showcase alternative ways for the local government unit to comply with the material recovery facility and address lack of space and funds for the MRF establishment.
Meanwhile, the MMDA, through the Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO), recommended the use of Takakura Method to introduce community-based composting using fermentation solutions made from a Japanese urban-based technology.
“We will teach the barangay composting using the Takakura method and how it would benefit the community,” said Abalos.
The MMDA’s SWMO will conduct orientation seminars for barangay officials, eco-aides, and residents to highlight the importance and process of segregation and collection of biodegradables and the process of Takakura composting.
The MMRF and Community-Based Takakura Composting are part of the Metro Manila Flood Management Project funded by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank.
The MMDA is tasked to implement the project’s Component 2, Minimizing Solid Waste in Waterways.
This component aims to improve the solid waste management system in barangays located near the pumping station, aligned with the MMDA’s mandate to implement alternative programs and activities intended to reduce, re-use and recycle solid waste.
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