The Quezon City government has won the 2025 Local Leaders Climate Award at the Bloomberg Philanthropies COP30 Local Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mayor Joy Belmonte said the recognition affirms the city’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable climate solutions.
She highlighted the Trash to Cashback program, an incentivized recycling initiative developed with Basic Environmental System Technologies Inc. to address waste management challenges. The program allows residents to exchange recyclables and single-use plastics for environmental points that can be redeemed for basic goods or used to pay utility bills.
Launched in 2021, Trash to Cashback has diverted more than 719,000 kilos of waste—equivalent to 2.36 million environmental points—from landfills and waterways. Belmonte said this achievement reflects strong collaboration among the government, stakeholders, and citizens.
She added that Quezon City will continue pursuing a safe, livable, and inclusive future for all, noting that the city’s Urban Farming Program was also a finalist in the 2022 C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Climate Leaders Awards honor ambitious and impactful climate initiatives, showcasing scalable solutions and giving finalists a platform to share best practices and inspire global action.
