Through the years, human waste has been a serious problem in the environment. With tons of trash made and collected each day, it has been a challenge for us to manage its growing number and how it is properly thrown and segregated.
Recycling is one of the key components of waste management, something the world needs to master to deal with the increasingly consumer-based economy that humans have adopted.
To promote and serve as models of society, prominent corporations have taken great steps to start recycling initiatives and different projects in our country.
One of the biggest projects out there is the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS), an alliance made up of a group of companies like Mondelez Philippines, Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Liwayway Marketing Corporation, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Unilever, Universal Robina Corporation, Nestlé Philippines, Monde Nissin Corporation, and Procter & Gamble Philippines. Part of the alliance as well are big groups like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Philippine Plastics Industry Association.
PARMS recently started a project to build a residual plastic recycling facility in Paranaque, in partnership with the local government. They’ve already begun to collect plastic waste from seven schools in the city. The said waste is turned into ecobricks or recycled building bricks, used in turn to improve the schools’ facilities.
Dole Philippines launched a recycling initiative focused on encouraging the youth to reduce, reuse and recycle. The project, called “Sunshine Heroes”, aims to instill recycling habits in schoolchildren. This included making material recover facilities (MRFs) where students can bring their household recyclable waste to be sold to local junk shops or recyclers. The money generated by the MRFs go to the schools for their school programs.
Dole launched this project with the Mother Earth Foundation and Gone Adventurin’.
The Mother Earth Foundation is a local environmental group with its own environmental programs, while Gone Adventurin’ is a Singapore-based advisory firm helping companies, government agencies and non-government organizations integrate sustainability practices into their core businesses.
There is also the newly created Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), whose members consist of 30 major global companies. They aim to end plastic waste in the environment through the combined efforts of said companies as a non-profit organization. Programs involving infrastructure, innovation, education and clean-up are already in the works, and other companies are urged to join the alliance in their efforts.
Working together is an important part of saving the world and reducing plastic waste. Cooperation is a recurring theme in these alliances and joint projects.
The road to a free plastic waste society may be a long shot. However, it’s still not too late to be a part of the change and advocacy to help not just our country, but also the entire planet.
