Shopping mall operator SM Prime Holdings Inc. said it has partnered with nonprofit group Plastic Credit Exchange (PCEx) for an initiative that aims to promote proper plastic waste disposal.
The initiative will start at SM Megamall in Ortigas beginning February 10 and will soon be rolled out in stages across other shopping malls nationwide.
Mall shoppers, communities and offices within the area are encouraged to bring their empty, cleaned, and dried plastic waste every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The project promotes responsible plastic waste disposal by encouraging individuals to clean and dry all kinds of plastic waste they generate at home, including plastic bottles, food containers, plastic utensils, and sachets.
Acceptable types of plastics include soda bottles, furniture, grocery bags, and pouches, among others. “Our partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cares will provide a more extensive opportunity for Filipinos to dispose of their plastic waste responsibly. The PCEx Team remains committed to furthering programs and channels to help save the environment. We all have the collective responsibility to do our part for the planet, and this plastic waste collection program is just one of the many initiatives lined up,” said Richard de Guzman, PCEx sustainable community development manager.
“We are hoping to help instill an eco-conscious mindset among Filipinos when it comes to their use and disposal of plastic. This will be a good community-based initiative on responsible solid waste management, and we are grateful for the partnership with Plastic Credit Exchange,” said SM Cares Program Director on Environment Liza B. Silerio.
According to a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines published in October, Filipinos consumed about 2.15 million tons of plastic in 2019, of which 35 percent were dumped to the open environment. The report also revealed that the plastic waste recycling rate was only at 9 percent of the said figure for that year.
PCEx is the world’s first global, nonprofit, fully integrated plastic offset platform.
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