The local government of Angono, Rizal, has introduced a novel way of enticing its residents to actively participate in waste segregation and recycling programs.
Dubbed as the “1st Basura Raffle,” the program encourages residents to collect recyclable wastes and turn them over to the local government for a raffle stub.
The office of Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon revealed that the program that was introduced only recently in some villages, has been getting positive results with residents turning over their dried recyclable garbage in exchange for raffle tickets.
The first batch of garbage collected from the residents were beverage cartons, cigarette butts, foils, carboard materials, textiles, plastic sachets, old shoes, tarpaulins, plastic straws and other recyclable trash items, according to the local government.
Raffle prizes include home appliances, sacks of rice, and grocery items that can be won by participants in the pro-environment project of the municipal government.
The mayor’s office said residual wastes collected by the local government unit are brought to the Materials Recovery and Residual Containment Facility in Barangay Kalayaan. The wastes are then collected by local industries and converted into fuel.
Angono’s Basura Raffle Program is part of the existing Zero Waste Program and the town government’s compliance with Republic Ac 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the provincial government’s Ynares to Eco System To Green (YES) Program.