Where to go to recycle in and around metro manila

Where to go to recycle?

The importance of recycling household waste products is widely known throughout the Philippines. Many people now realize that one significant positive impact that they can personally have on the environment is to recycle products. However, as more people become interested to recycle materials, it is equally important that they know specifically where to go to recycle their waste products. Most recycling centers are located in cities and urban areas. However, recycling campaigns can also be successfully carried out in rural communities.

Below is a list of recycling centers in Manila. These centers will purchase from individuals or groups bulk materials for recycling. However, it is important to note that some of these recyclers will only purchase products in bulk, sometimes in quantities as large as a ton. The specific types of materials, the minimum amounts and purchase prices will vary. You can get specific information about each from the company.

· For all kinds of bottles - colored, broken, medicine, wine and liquor:

SAN MIGUEL CORPORATION, Bottle Division Parola Street, Tondo Manila

· For paper, cartons and newspapers (glossy paper from magazines usually not accepted):

ACLEM PAPER MILLS
Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

WORLDWIDE PAPER MILLS
22 Baler Street,
San Francisco del Monte
Quezon City
Metro Manila

GLOBE PAPER MILLS
1000 Gov. E. Pascual Avenue
Malabon, Metro Manila

· All types of styrfoam:

MS. MARGIE CENTENO, Inventor
Los Ba Laguna
(109-domestic calls, Tel.# 50006)

· All types of rubber; rubber slippers:

RUBBER WORLD-Phils, Inc.
328 Quirino Highway
Novaliches, Quezon City
Metro Manila

· For plastics and tin cans, including paint cans and rusty galvanized iron sheets:

GOODWILL METAL ENTERPRISES
225 Gen. Luis Street,
Kaybiga, Kalookan City
Metro Manila

METAL WEALTH ENTERPRISES
37 Gen. Luis-Capri
Novaliches, Quezon City
Metro Manila

Junk shops are recyclers

Since there are limited recycling centers, many households can recycle their products through neighborhood junk shops.

Did you know that...

· Through the Linis Ganada project in San Juan, junk shops provide pushcart boys (diyaryo bote boys) with start-upcapital to buy non-traditional materials which can be recycled. The junk shops then sell the materials in bulk directly to companies such as Rubberworld or San Miguel which purchase the recyclable wastes.

· A push cart boy can earn P70 - 100 per day by buying old newspapers, bottles, metals and other junks which can be recycled and then selling them to junk shop owners.

· These initiatives not only promote recycling, but also provide an alternative income source for out-of-school youth.

For further information: Balikatan Movement, 333 Santolan Road, San Juan, Metro Manila

Ideas for Action:

A Technology Information Kit, November 23 - 28, 1992

Proper solid waste management

Refuse produced by communities is called solid waste. It includes garbage from households, companies, schools, businesses, hospitals and laboratories. Tons of refuse which are collected in urban centers are brought to dumpsites, while the uncollected wastes thrown elsewhere. This waste clogs drainage canals and manholes and pollutes esteros and the natural water system.

Improper waste disposal causes diseases and pollution that pose great dangers to health. One way to help solve this problem is to be conscious of how you manage your waste.

· Classify garbage as wet and dry.

Classify garbage as wet and dry

Wet garbage are: animal feeds and organic compostibles.

- Animal feeds are household wastes such as vegetable leftovers or others that can be used as feeds for animals, especially swine.

- Organic compostibles are organic materials that can not be used a animal feeds but could be turned into compost, such as rotting fruits and vegetables, peelings, twigs, leaves, etc.

Dry garbage may either be organic or inorganic, as metals, rags, paper, cardboard, bottles, plastics, wood pieces, glass, etc. These may be subclassified as:

- Factory returnables. Items that factories can recycle, such as broken glass and bottles, plastics, paper cardboard, metals. etc.

- Arts and crafts materials. Items which can be used in handicrafts, such as paper mache, trinkets, etc.

- Combustible materials. Wastes from wood and tree branches and even leaves that can be used as fuel.

- Filling materials. Generally, all dry garbage can be used as filling for road ruts and holes and low ground. Construction throw-aways like concrete materials and slabs are called panambak and are good filling materials.

· Minimize wastes as follows:

- Buy things that are only necessary. Invest in durables. Take advantage of repairs, refills and rechargeables. For example, purchase rechargeable batteries (initial investment of P450-500) that have a life span of 3-5 years, rather than continually buying dry cell batteries.

- Bring a tote or shopping bag with you at all times.

- Avoid products with elaborate packaging.

- Reuse paper, cardboard and other paper producst. (Used paper can be made into charcoal balls.)

- Reuse glass, plastic or metal containers for storage and or wrapping purposes. (e.g., soft/flexible plastics can be made into ropes, pillow-cushions, doormat, etc.; empty tetrapacks can be used as seedling banks or planters.

· Donate recyclables to charitable groups or to those who need them most.

· Sell reusables and recyclables to pushcart boys (magbobote-dyaryo) or junk shops in your neighborhood.

· Store dry garbage in proper places for future use.

· Convert your kitchen into a mini-recycling center. Place animal feed items in plastic or metal containers that do not leak and have fitting covers.

· Compost organic materials. Build a backyard compost pit or install a home-composter.

· Share the recycling experience with your family members, classmates, neighbors and friends in the workplace or community.

· Organize a recycling or clean-up program in your community.

Junk shop

Waste disposal management can be done in different areas, in rural and in urban; and on two levels, namely the household and the community.

Waste disposal in the rural area is more environment-friendly, meaning you can easily classify and provide space for the garbage. Everything can be done at the right time and in the right places, like:

· A compost pit can be easily constructed.

· The consumption of junk food with elaborate packaging should be regulated.

· Household leftovers are used as animal feeds, provided to pigs or chickens.

· Biogas technology, even at the household level, can be installed. (It's important to note that biogas requires as much as 25 kg of waste material per day to be implemented.)

· Communities can be organized to undertake recycling projects. For example, a barrio can establish a central recycling center to collect all recycleable items from the households.

Compost pit and home composter

In contrast, solid waste management in the urban area requires a massive education campaign to enable people to act accordingly. Problems like lack of time and space may be a deterrent to pursue recycling in households.

Source:

Based on a workshop discussion with Dr. Emma A. Pujalte of IRRREN (International Resource Recovery and Recycling Network)

Ideas for Action:

A Technology Information Kit, November 23 - 28, 1992