QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday announced that the city would lead the fight against plastic pollution through variety (sari-sari) store based-refill hubs to help solve the country’s environmental problems.
Amid the celebration of World Refill Day, the city government partnered with Greenpeace Philippines and Impact Hub Manila to launch “Kuha sa Tingi” project, an initiative establishing community-based refill scheme through the local sari-sari stores.
Belmonte, Greenpeace›s zero waste campaigner Marian Ledesma, and Impact Hub founder and chief executive officer Ces Rondario signed a memorandum of understanding for the initial roll-out of the project in selected “Tindahan ni Ate Joy” stores.
“Being sustainable and eco-friendly doesn›t have to be expensive. Our partnership with Greenpeace and Impact Hub only proves that shifting to zero waste and limiting our plastic generation is inclusive, affordable, and accessible to all, including those from all socio-economic sectors and urban areas,” she noted.
Initially, refill stations would be installed in 30 stores across the city, where consumers can deposit their own reusable containers to refill basic commodities, such as liquid detergent, fabric conditioner and dishwashing liquid.
The project aims to provide people with alternatives to products in sachets and other kinds of single-use plastic packaging in the form of affordable and simple reuse and refill systems that build on past sustainable practices.
Studies showed over 164 million sachets were being used and discarded daily in the Philippines.