Will rewards for waste segregators work?  

The dumpsites/incomplete, pseudo-landfills testify to the role of humans in creating smokey garbage mountains locally, globally.

Is it not clear to everyone that the problem of waste starts with his/her hand that throws the waste?

That dumpsites and landfills are unnecessary if only everyone commits to segregating their daily wastes from their households/communities, schools/offices/churches, other locations?

Gikan sa kamot ang problema, maningkamot gamit ang kamot ang solusyon.

Unta no?

How then to convince, persuade, encourage, enjoin each and every person to segregate his/her own waste daily?

How do we all solve the problem of waste?

If, like global warming, we humans are the cause of the problem, how do we become the solution?

Will giving rewards/incentives result in more, if not all, segregating their waste finally?

 What do you think of this proposal?

Let us have a regular weekly Tabo sa Basura: Pasalamat sa mga Waste Segregators.

This scheme proposes to mainstream waste segregation among households and barangays, starting with malata na basura (food/kitchen/yard wastes) and plastic wastes to

a) reduce waste volume,

b) save transport costs to far away dumpsites,

c) lessen/decrease costs and volume disposal to dumpsites,

d) ensure healthier constituents/communities,

e) contribute to climate action, and,

f) most especially, honor waste segregators and assist them meet their daily food needs especially in the midst of this uncertain ME crisis by diverting, using LGU waste budget to meet needs of laudable waste segregators rather than spend merely for truck-based waste collection/transport/disposal.

This scheme is proposed to start in these selected areas-

1) upland barangays - to ensure our farmers have their own sufficient daily food so they can, in turn, continue/sustain food supply for the city through the ME crisis/upcoming El Ni?o, and,

2) poor urban barangays so they can showcase how regular/effective waste segregation will benefit waste segregators, their families/others/the city/our environment.

In these trial communities, Tabo sa Basura will be conducted weekly, on a designated, communally approved day and time.

Once a week, residents will bring their segregated household in exchange for rice. Malatang basura will be prioritized: every 5 kgs of kitchen/food/yard wastes can be exchanged for 1 kg of rice. (Later, other food items can be considered for exchange as well).

Do you think this incentive will reduce barangay waste and assist the needy waste segregators at the same time?

Before the launch, dialogue, social preparation will need to be done.

Participating barangays will need a minimum of 4 members (each member to be paid P250-minimum wage per day or equivalent rice kgs) to supervise/manage the following tasks every Tabo sa Basura day:

Task 1: Member#1 to accept/weigh the basura for exchange (for waste data reduction documentation;

Task 2; Member#2 to chop the exchanged malata basura;

Task 3: Member# Person#3 to squeeze dry the malatang basura;

Task 4: Member#4 will ensure measured, chopped, squeezed dry malatang basura is buried in a provided container, in soil lasagna fashion, ready for composting within 18 days.

Selected participating barangays need to prepare as well the following (aside from the 4 members: venue for the Tabo, weighing scale/s, chopping board/knives, containers with ready soil for chopped/ squeezed/ layered wet wastes and final barangay/household space for collected composted malatang basura.

Suggested trial barangays for Tabo sa Malatang Basura: 1) 10 North and 10 South upland barangays, and, 2) Barangay Luz.

For Tabo sa Plastics, Barangay Luz can be requested 1) to send volunteers to train other barangays how to manage the plastic waste exchange, and, 2) to sell these collected upland plastic wastes through Brgy Luz’ buyers/partners.

Will this incentive system work both as solution to waste segregation and as survival-safety net for needy waste segregators?

Shall we try this Tabo sa Basura Reward Scheme for Waste Segregators instead of just continuing with the expensive/eco-unfriendly-truck-based waste collection/transport/disposal system?