Makati making money from trash

Makati City gave a whole new meaning to turning garbage into cash after it sold a total of 11,000 kilos of trash to recyclers for at least P132,000 in four months during its so-called weekend waste markets.

From September to December 2006, the Department of Environmental Services (DES) said the city government’s effort to transform thrash into money has been a success.

In a report to Mayor Jejomar Binay, DES chief Danilo Villas said weekend waste market recyclers bought 634.85 kilograms of recyclables for P11,459.90 in September; 886.95 kilos worth P14,568.35 in October; 4,856.7 kilos worth P35,945.83 in November; and 4,540.55 kilos worth P70,241.94 in December.

He said the project was initially held for a trial period of one month in September but was extended after it showed promise.

Encouraged by the support and participation of residents and businesses in the city, Villas said they will continue the project on a regular basis starting this month to ensure that the recycling program will be sustained.

"The waste market recyclables collection that we organized plays a vital role in our garbage reduction program, and is part of our continuing efforts to reduce the total volume of waste that we generate in Makati," he stressed.

"The promising outcome of the first four months shows that it is a lucrative undertaking, so we call on our residents to take this opportunity to turn their trash into cash by participating in the program."

Villas added that Makati City’s weekend waste market is a weekly recyclables collection activity held every first Friday of the month, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a parking lot in Glorietta II, Ayala Center.

"The project is open to both Makati and non-Makati residents," he said.

He said recyclables that may be brought to the weekend waste market include empty ink or toner cartridges, used oil, polyethylene bottles, aluminum cans, mixed paper waste, white papers/white books, newsprints, magazines, car batteries, used computers and other office equipment.

"The event is participated in by five recycling companies, namely, HMR Envirocycle Phils. Inc., YGARC Trading Co., Trust International Paper Corp., Polytrader, Clean Leaf and PRI Industry," according to Villas’ report.

The recycling program is supported by the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Philippine Business for the Environment, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Kapisanan ng mga Junkshop Operators sa Makati.