In a village in Angono, Rizal, trash collectors whose job is to segregate recyclables from biodegradables and disposable are earning extra income by making Christmas decorations out of recyclable materials.

The garbage sorters spend their free time making Christmas decors out of plastic softdrink bottles which they have segregated in the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) of Barangay San Isidro in Angono.

These Christmas decorations are giving the MRF garbage segregators additional cash as they are being bought by customers on a pre-order basis.

Allan Santos, manager of Barangay San Isidro’s MRF, which recently earned recognition from the provincial government’s Ynares Eco System (YES) To Green Program for being adjudged as the Most Functional MRF in the province, said workers at the MRF have been busy making Christmas lanterns and Christmas trees out of the green soda bottles which they sorted out at the barangay facility.

Since the start of September, the MRF workers have been busy making the holiday ornaments to meet the order of private groups.

Annabelle, a garbage segregator, told Manila Bulletin that she can make more than 20 lanterns in a day out of the plastic soda bottles.

She said she only learned the craft of turning plastic bottles into decorative items by watching instructional videos on the internet.

Barangay San Isidro Kagawad Neil Piñon said the village is adhering to the Zero Waste Program being implemented by the administration of Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon, resulting in the decrease in the volume of garbage that the village generates everyday.

Some of the lanterns that the MRF staff did are displayed at the facility and at the barangay hall of San Isidro to showcase not only the craftsmanship of the Angono people but also to highlight garbage recycling initiatives of the barangay and the municipal government. (Nel Andrade)