Women waste recyclers benefit from TSD facility in Malabon
Published May 16, 2023 06:08 am
Women in Malabon City are the direct beneficiaries of a Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facility in Barangay Dampalit which was built to generate jobs for the residents and raise awareness on the importance of e-waste management in the country.
The TSD facility was established under the “Implementation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Management Programs for Electric Cooperatives and Safe E-waste Management” project created through the partnership of Globe Telecom, Incorporated, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Integrated Recycling Industries, Inc. (IRI) and EcoWaste Coalition, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
It aims to empower women and highlight the critical role they play in society.
Women waste workers learn how to safely dismantle e-waste and get access to job opportunities (Globe Group/ MANILA BULLETIN)
E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the Philippines, with the country generating 32,664.41 metric tons per year, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor in 2019. Globe said e-waste management in the country faces challenges including the absence of formal recycling facilities and a lack of formal inventory of e-waste generation. It also said that informal e-waste recycling has been a source of livelihood for many Barangay Dampalit residents, usually done in their homes. However, the absence of a formal facility for the recycle posed health and environmental hazards as families, including children, were exposed to toxic materials like polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) which used as flame retardants in old television sets and computers, bromine, and other heavy metals. The facility has created jobs for women as waste recyclers trained on the dismantling of e-waste and are now equipped with safe and proper e-waste recycling practices The digital solutions platform has provided funding support to the facility by donating a vehicle that will be used for collecting and transporting e-wastes and providing e-waste collection bins distributed to the different office buildings at the DENR- EMB, as well as communications materials. The TSD facility in Malabon City provides a model for safe and proper e-waste recycling that could be replicated in other communities. It has collected 50,000 (cathode ray tubes from television sets with PBDE-contaminated plastic casings (approximately 1.1 tons of PBDE), and 200 tons of recyclable materials from e-waste. Women who are part of the Samahan ng Mangangalakal in the city reported they gained more confidence along with the formal setup, better health and safety, and more stable income through the project following the establishment of the facility. "Being part of this project gave me the confidence to inspire others. Our local environment is safe from hazardous substances and the e-wastes we sell are managed properly in this facility. I can see now we are a big part of our community. We are not “just” women," said Joanna Amican, an e-waste dismantler. "In the past, my everyday worry was where to get the next meal. Now, when I am already a formal e-waste dismantler, I am sure I can put food on the table three times a day," added Charina David, another beneficiary.
Women waste workers learn how to safely dismantle e-waste and get access to job opportunities (Globe Group/ MANILA BULLETIN)
E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the Philippines, with the country generating 32,664.41 metric tons per year, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor in 2019. Globe said e-waste management in the country faces challenges including the absence of formal recycling facilities and a lack of formal inventory of e-waste generation. It also said that informal e-waste recycling has been a source of livelihood for many Barangay Dampalit residents, usually done in their homes. However, the absence of a formal facility for the recycle posed health and environmental hazards as families, including children, were exposed to toxic materials like polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) which used as flame retardants in old television sets and computers, bromine, and other heavy metals. The facility has created jobs for women as waste recyclers trained on the dismantling of e-waste and are now equipped with safe and proper e-waste recycling practices The digital solutions platform has provided funding support to the facility by donating a vehicle that will be used for collecting and transporting e-wastes and providing e-waste collection bins distributed to the different office buildings at the DENR- EMB, as well as communications materials. The TSD facility in Malabon City provides a model for safe and proper e-waste recycling that could be replicated in other communities. It has collected 50,000 (cathode ray tubes from television sets with PBDE-contaminated plastic casings (approximately 1.1 tons of PBDE), and 200 tons of recyclable materials from e-waste. Women who are part of the Samahan ng Mangangalakal in the city reported they gained more confidence along with the formal setup, better health and safety, and more stable income through the project following the establishment of the facility. "Being part of this project gave me the confidence to inspire others. Our local environment is safe from hazardous substances and the e-wastes we sell are managed properly in this facility. I can see now we are a big part of our community. We are not “just” women," said Joanna Amican, an e-waste dismantler. "In the past, my everyday worry was where to get the next meal. Now, when I am already a formal e-waste dismantler, I am sure I can put food on the table three times a day," added Charina David, another beneficiary.