Plastic Barter Store Opens in Cebu

A unique store has opened in Cebu City where they give different products in exchange for plastics and garbage.

The store is called Plastic Barter Store, located beside University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Mabini Campus in Mabini Street, Barangay Sto. Niño, Cebu City.

The store accepts recyclable plastics like water and soft drink bottles, shampoo and coffee sachets and junk food wrappers.

However, you need to clean those plastics first before they can accept it.

There is a wide variety of products you can choose from, including food, toys, clothing and many more.

For instance, if you can bring 4 kilos of plastic bottles, you can exchange it for a kilo of rice. 8 kilos of garbage can be exchanged for toys, clothes and shoes.

The store was established by the 12 Baskets Movement hoping to help conserve the environment especially to avoid floods.

Cebu City’s downtown area is prone to heavy flooding especially that we are now on this year’s rainy season.

Plastics and garbage they collect are ground into fine particles in their facility in Barangay Dumlog in Talisay City.

Ground plastics are used to make hollow blocks which they can also sell it for a living and to also buy products for the store.

“Ang purpose ani niya kay galingon ni siya, unya i-sagol sa hollow blocks unya ibaligya ug tig 12 pesos (These plastics are ground and mixed to the cement to make hollow blocks, which will be sold for 12 pesos each),” said Gina, the store’s in charge.

The Plastic Barter Store is open from Mondays-Saturdays from 8am to 3pm.

They also accept any kind of donations to help the less fortunate. (MLC)