WWF-Philippines scales up Plastic Smart Cities project; taps Siargao, Palawan, CDO
Members of the Bituing Marikit Rural Improvement Club clean collected plastic bottle caps in preparation for upcycling at the Central Materials Recovery Facility of the Municipality of San Isidro (2022).
Local government units (LGUs) are gearing up to implement improved solid waste management systems through the second phase of the WWF-Philippines Plastic Smart Cities (PSC) project.
The second phase, dubbed Project Interventions to Keep our Oceans Trash-free (IKOT), marks the scale-up of the implementation of plastic waste solutions for Davao City, Municipality of San Isidro in Davao Oriental, and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS). In the first phase, the project piloted solutions to address the needs of the areas’ solid waste management systems.
After completing the first two months of logistical preparations, Project IKOT is expected to begin a year-long pilot-testing of the solutions.
Solid waste management models from pilot barangays will be replicated in Barangay Mahayag in Davao City and Barangay La Union in San Isidro. These include materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and engaging social enterprises in the collection, reuse and upcycling of plastic into products.
City Environment and Natural Resources Office employees operate the plastic shredder at the Central Materials Recovery Facility at Brgy. Mambago-A, IGACOS (2022).
On the other hand, IGaCoS will be adopting a segregation-to-recycling system in tourism areas, in alignment with the Cogon-Sta. Cruz Farmer Beneficiaries Association (COSTAFBA).
“We are grateful to continue our Plastic Smart Cities work with Project IKOT. Phase 1 has provided solid waste management system models that we are now scaling up within and outside the Davao Gulf,” says Czarina Constantino-Panopio, Program Manager of WWF-Philippines’ No Plastics in Nature initiative. “We look forward to documenting and sharing circular solutions that can be replicated in the different Philippine landscape archetypes.”
More areas
The Plastic Smart Cities project is also expanding to new sites, namely: Taytay, Palawan; Cagayan De Oro City as well as the Municipalities of Del Carmen and General Luna in Siargao.
Although Taytay, Del Carmen and General Luna have a market for Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETs), there is currently no established system to work with that market. PETs are usually used to package carbonated drinks, fruit juices, water and others. Meanwhile CDO’s recovery facilities only have a 5% city recovery rate, which means only 5% of waste collected is diverted from landfills or an open environment by either recycling, composting or other methods.
Women’s Bright plastic-free household products refilling station in Barangay 23-C, Davao City (2022).
In Taytay, only 16% of barangays are covered by waste collection services. There is also only one junk shop in Del Carmen and General Luna that buys plastic from Siargao Island.
The goal for all sites is to increase the access of households to waste collection services, and increase the percentage of plastics being collected and recycled.
The PSC work has been supported by many institutions including the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI). The partnership aims to identify appropriate solid waste management models for different Philippine landscape archetypes: urban cities, islands, coastal communities and lowland communities. It is part of WWF-Philippines’ overall goal to stop the flow of plastic entering nature by 2030 through eliminating unnecessary plastic; doubling reuse, recycling, and recovery; and ensuring the remaining plastic is sourced responsibly.
"Waste management is a global challenge that requires local solutions. The Plastic Smart Cities project with WWF-Philippines aims to accelerate progress towards waste-free communities by fostering collaboration between cities, businesses, and communities! Together, we can create a sustainable future for our planet and future generations.”, said Cecile Alcantara, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines President.
About WWF-Philippines:
The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines is an environmental non-government organization committed to create an impact on biodiversity protection and responding to the climate crisis -towards a safe and just recovery. WWF-Philippines works with a host of partners including national and local governments, to co-create inclusive, innovative, and interdisciplinary solutions that emphasize the role of science in the service of life.
WWF-Philippines' focus is on scaled solutions with our partners to match the enormity of the tasks required to address the urgent environmental challenges facing the present and next generations of Filipinos. Its mission is "to stop, and eventually reverse the accelerating degradation of the Philippine environment – to build a future where Filipinos live in harmony with nature."
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Czarina Constantino-Panopio
National Lead, No Plastics in Nature Initiative
cconstantino@wwf.org.ph
For media arrangements, please contact:
Ms. Chezka Guevarra
Assistant Manager for External Communications
09276566436
cguvarra@wwf.org.ph
