VILLAGE EFFORT Informal waste pickers are among the target beneficiaries of the Philippine Business For Social Progress, whose environmental initiatives include the setup of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF). One MRF in Barangay Novaliches Proper, Quezon City (right), has so far collected 300 kilos of plastic waste. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/PHOTO FROM PBSP
The Philippine Business for Social Progress Inc. (PBSP), in response to the Extended Producer Responsibility Act (Epra) of 2022, has become a certified Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), providing services to Obliged Enterprises (OEs) in navigating compliance with EPR regulations.
PBSP offers an end-to-end solution that guides companies through the entire project cycle, by providing education, tools, support to data reporting, and audit assistance, and facilitating collaboration with authorities. This comprehensive approach ensures a smooth and efficient compliance process for large enterprises.
With 29 OEs under its roster for 2023, PBSP successfully diverted plastic waste totaling 1,098.45 metric tons. This significant achievement was made possible through partner waste diverters Evergreen Labs, Sentinel UpCycling Technologies, Ecoloop Republic Cement and The Plastic Flamingo.
The commitment extends beyond EPR compliance. PBSP also actively participates in a range of Corporate Social Responsibility activities that directly impact communities.
One such activity involved organizing a visit to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Barangay Novaliches Proper, Quezon City. This allowed OEs to learn how to effectively utilize the MRF at the community level. Also under this program, waste collectors and estero rangers collected a total of 300 kilograms of plastic and received rice as incentives.
OEs also visited Sharon Farm, an urban farm maintained by the community, where recycled plastics from the MRF were used to form planting racks and other materials.
VILLAGE EFFORT Informal waste pickers are among the target beneficiaries of the Philippine Business For Social Progress, whose environmental initiatives include the setup of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF). One MRF in Barangay Novaliches Proper, Quezon City (right), has so far collected 300 kilos of plastic waste. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/PHOTO FROM PBSP
Upcycling, waste pickers
In partnership with Sentinel UpCycling Technologies, OEs donated 90 upcycled chairs to two PBSP-assisted schools: Maronquillo National High School in San Rafael, Bulacan, and San Isidro Elementary School in Rodriguez, Rizal.
The purchase of 45 upcycled chairs donated to Maronquillo National High School diverted a total of 33,750 sachets or 67.5 kilos of plastic, while the 45 upcycled chairs donated to San Isidro Elementary School supported the Nestlé Tibay Chairs program which made chairs out of 70 kilos of upcycled Bear Brand packs.
Recognizing the crucial role of informal waste pickers, PBSP, along with OEs, also visited Sitio Pintor, a community situated in Barangay San Isidro, Rizal, where the majority of families earn their livelihood through waste picking or “pangangalakal.”
PBSP adopted a total of 40 informal waste pickers from Barangay Nova Proper in Quezon City and Sitio Pintor in Montalban (Rodriguez), Rizal province, for its EPR Program.
PBSP’s work as PRO is a testament to the power of collaboration. By working hand in hand with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, OEs, waste diverters, communities, and informal waste pickers, PBSP is driving the Philippines to a more sustainable future.