CITY OF MALOLOS–SM City Marilao starts collecting 4 tons of daily plastic wastes through a container van it stationed at its parking lot under its Plastic Waste Collection Program (PWC) which aims to promote sustainability and responsible solid waste management among consumers and communities.
The container van can accommodate up to 4,000 kilograms or 4 tons of municipal government and resident’s plastic wastes.
SM City Marilao Mall Manager Engr. Emmanuel Gatmaitan said the program which they had just launched last week through the SM Cares and Plastic Credit Exchange (PCex) accepts garbage from mall shoppers, communities and individuals even from in and out of Marilao from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
All plastic wastes such as empty bottled waters plastic cups, lids, straws, and utensils, sachets and snack packaging; shampoo and detergent bottles, plastic bags, e-commerce pouches and small tires can be dumped in the container van but they should be empty, clean, and dry, Gatmaitan said.
“Apart from promoting sustainability in the province, SM’s Plastic Waste Collection Program also aims to reduce plastic waste in landfills and bodies of water through proper plastic segregation and disposal” Gatmaitan added.
SM City Marilao Assistant Mall Manager Engr. Janette Aguilera also added that SM’s Plastic Waste Collection Program supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12, 13 and 14 which promotes sustainable consumption and production patterns, climate action, and promotion of conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
Philippines is one of the top contributors of plastic waste in the world. A study found that a staggering 2.7 million tons of plastic waste are generated in the country every year, and an estimated 20 percent ends up in the ocean.
Apart from the Plastic Waste Collection Program, SM’s other initiatives for the Environment in Bulacan include the Trash to Cash recycling market, annual green film festival which promotes environmental awareness to students and the Electronic Waste Collection Program that was launched last 2020.
