The Mandaluyong City local government said Monday, June 13, that it has stepped up its recycling drive to help minimize the adverse effects of human and plastic wastes on the environment in the city and in the country.
During the city's weekly morning assembly, Councilor Benjie Abalos lauded the combined efforts of the city government, Mandaluyong Manpower, and residents in advocating for a cleaner environment and supporting the city's recycling efforts.
"Naisip ko na talagang every three years after ng campaign po natin after elections, saan napapadpad ‘yung mga tarpaulins, mga posters, na for sure hindi lang dito sa Mandaluyong, pero maging sa buong Pilipinas? (I just thought that for every three years after the election campaign, where do the campaign tarpaulins and posters go not just here in Mandaluyong but in the whole Philippines?)," Councilor Abalos said.
He said they later realized that those election wastes can be converted into useful items because they are recyclable.
So I'm very happy na there are certain barangays na nakagawa ng livelihood, and not only that, pwede natin s’yang ma-utilize. Pwede natin syang gawing eco bags. Kung kakayanin pwedeng pang grocery and not only pang groceries and pamalengke, pwede din s’yang magamit as aprons (So I'm very happy that there are certain barangays who have successfully created livelihood through the recycling of the campaign materials. These can be converted into eco bags that can be used for groceries and in the market, as well as aprons)," he added.
The Mandaluyong Manpower led by Midge Tampingco presented the finished products to the city government as they pledged to continue their efforts in not just providing livelihood to the city residents but also in protecting the environment.
Several cities in the country have also launched their own campaign material recycling programs as well as livelihood projects to their respective citizens amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
On May 13, The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that campaign materials collected after the elections will be recycled into eco bags and ecobricks.
MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said environmental group Ecowaste Coalition reached out to the agency to create ecobags from the collected campaign materials.
Artes said the group already had a meeting with their personnel so they can make ecobags out of the tarpaulins with good quality.
For thin tarpaulins, Artes said they will be shredded in a granulator and will serve as ingredients in creating hollow blocks and ecobricks, which be used in the pocket parks being developed in Metro Manila, he said.