Mandaue City Implements ‘Goods-for-Trash’ Program

The Mandaue City government has implemented a “goods-for-trash” program in which at least 20 sacks of recyclable trash will be exchanged with grocery items.

The exchange center is part of the city’s effort to reduce waste.

The city, which allocated an initial PHP500,000 for the groceries, is implementing the project in Barangay Subangdaku in partnership with Sulong Mandauehanong Kabus Inc. and a local recycling company.

“In Subangdaku, at least 100 individuals traded their trash for food,” Barangay Captain, Ernie Manatad, informed.

“This is one effective way of getting the cooperation of every individual in solving the problem of indiscriminate throwing of garbage,” Mandaue City Mayor, Jonas Cortes, said.

“The project,” he said, “aims to reduce the volume of garbage collected in the city by 10 percent.”

The city collects 460 tons of garbage every day.

Barangay Subangdaku was chosen as a pilot area for the project, which will later be rolled out in the 26 other barangays.

At the exchange center, trash that can be recycled are swapped with rice, canned goods, noodles, and other goods.

The goods and recyclable items have corresponding points.

Manatad said that they have yet to determine how many food items were distributed.

Engr. Ricardo Mendoza, acting head of the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office, earlier said that the exchange centers will complement the materials recovery facilities in some barangays.

He said that they plan to put exchange centers in the larger sitios in all barangays. (PNA) FFC/EB/SSC