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(Philstar.com) – Feb 10, 2021 – 3:29 pm
SM, PCEx launch program to promote responsible disposal of plastic waste
MANILA, Philippines – SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility division SM Cares, has partnered with the Philippines-based non-profit Plastic Credit Exchange (PCEx) for a plastic waste collection initiative.
Called the Plastic Waste Collection Program, it aims to help communities dispose of their plastic waste more responsibly and inspire the public to adopt more sustainable practices when it comes to plastic use.
Plastic waste collection will begin with SM Megamall (located at RDU Supermarket, Bldg. B), starting today, February 10 onwards, and will soon be rolled out in stages at other SM Malls across the country.
Shoppers from shopping malls, communities and offices within the area are encouraged to bring their empty, clean and dry plastic waste every day, only from 10 am to 5 pm.
The project promotes the responsible disposal of plastic waste by encouraging people to clean and dry all types of plastic waste they generate at home, including plastic bottles, food containers, plastic utensils, and sachets.
Acceptable types of plastics include PET (soda bottles, furniture), HDPE (bottles, grocery bags, bags), LDPE (grocery bags, containers, dispenser bottles), PP (auto parts, food containers, tableware) and PS (cafeteria trays, plastic utensils, toys), as well as all other types of plastic, except PVC.
“Our partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Cares will provide a broader opportunity for Filipinos to dispose of their plastic waste responsibly. The PCEx team remains committed to promoting programs and channels to help save the environment, ”said Richard de Guzman, development manager for a sustainable community at PCEx.
“We all have a collective responsibility to do our part for the planet, and this plastic waste collection program is just one of many initiatives aligned,” he added.
“Through the Plastic Waste Collection Program, we hope to help instill an eco-conscious mindset among Filipinos when it comes to their use and disposal of plastic. This will be a good community initiative on responsible solid waste management, and we are grateful for the partnership with Plastic Credit Exchange, ”Engr said. Liza Silerio, director of the environment program at SM Cares.
Filipinos are known to consume a lot of plastic. According to a 2020 report from the Philippines’ World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Filipinos consumed around 2.15 million tonnes of plastic in 2019, with 35% of this number leaking into the open environment. The report also revealed that the plastic waste recycling rate was only 9% of that figure for that year.
The Plastic Waste Collection Program supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 12, which promotes sustainable consumption and production patterns, and SDG 14, which supports the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
From the collected plastic, those that are recyclable will be sent to vetted partners and converted into useful new products.
Anything that cannot be recycled will be used as an alternative fuel to coal in cement co-processing; that is, the use of suitable waste materials for energy and resource recovery purposes and the consequent reduction in the use of non-renewable resources. Co-processing is recognized by UNEP as the environmentally preferred option for the management of end-of-life plastics.
SM’s other initiatives for the environment include the Trash to Cash recycling market every first Friday and Saturday of the month, in all SM Malls; electronic waste collection program; water recycling in all its shopping centers; the use of solar energy; the annual Green Film Festival; and the AweSMSeas campaign on marine plastic pollution, in partnership with USAID and PRRCFI, to name a few.
PCEx is the world’s first fully integrated, not-for-profit, global plastic clearing platform. It offers a perfect, traceable and effective solution to compensate post-consumer plastics responsibly to ensure that they do not end up in the wild.
SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of Supermalls, responsible for initiatives focused on supporting communities and caring for the environment. In addition to its environmental programs, SM Cares’ advocacy activities include programs on breastfeeding women and mothers, people with disabilities, the elderly, children and youth, and bike-friendly initiatives.
Learn more by visiting www.smsupermalls.com/smcares and www.plasticcreditexchange.com.
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