The Quezon City government, through its Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), has launched a plastic waste trading program where residents can exchange their recyclables into groceries.
‘Trash to cashback’ is the city’s initiative, in partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies (BEST), that trades recyclables into ‘environmental points’ (EPs) which in turn can be exchanged for basic commodities such as rice, eggs and vegetables.
“The program’s main objective is to promote to our QCitizens the importance of recycling and proper waste segregation. Kapag dinala nila sa ating Trash to Cashback kiosk ang kanilang recyclable materials, pwede nila itong ipalit sa grocery,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
A My Basurero Eco-Community (MBE-C) kiosk has been set up at the QC Hall Risen Garden where employees can exchange their recyclable waste (plastic, paper, and metal) to environmental points, which can also be traded into groceries. It will soon be rolled out in barangays.
Interested traders have to create and register their email to BeepXTRA Philippines, BEST’s Cashback Loyalty Platform partner, to earn EPs.
Aside from groceries, EPs can also be used in bXTRA food deliveries. A complete list of partner stores and establishments can be accessed through bXTRA.com.ph and bXTRAoutlet.delivery.
According to EPWMD head Andrea A. Villaroman, they are currently in talks with the city’s Small Business Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (SBCDPO) for the registration of micro and small businesses as partner merchants of bXTRA.
“If we have more partner merchants where residents can exchange their EPs, mas mahihikayat natin silang ipalit ang kanilang recyclable waste,” Villaroman explained.
The program is also part of the city’s campaign to reduce plastic waste, following the implementation of the plastic bag ban this month. Single-use plastics and utensils will also be prohibited starting on July 1, 2021.
###
