Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte is bringing back the plastic waste trading program, Trash to Cashback, to intensify segregation and introduce the concept of recycling and a circular economy for a more sustainable lifestyle.
The program is part of the city’s campaign to reduce plastic waste, following the implementation of the plastic bag ban in March, she said.
Belmonte disclosed that single-use plastics/disposable materials for dine-in transactions would be prohibited starting on July 1.
Under the Trash to Cashback program, not only metal, paper, and PET bottles are accepted but also single-use plastics, such as shampoo sachets, coffee packs and even online shopping plastic packages, would also be accepted in the drop-off points.
“Together with our partner, Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies (BEST), we are bringing this project down to our barangays to make it more accessible and convenient to our residents who are willing to trade their recyclables into groceries. Hopefully, we can launch it by June in celebration of environment month,” Belmonte said.
The program was first launched in in March, giving the residents the opportunity to trade their recyclables into “environmental points” (EPs) in exchange for basic commodities, such as rice, eggs, vegetables, and other essential grocery items.
“The single-use plastics that we usually disregard, like sachets and online shopping packaging, are also included on the list of the recyclables that can be exchanged with EPs. This is part of our campaign to reduce plastic waste,” Belmonte said.
The city’s 142 villages have been tasked to identify a drop-off point within their community, where residents could bring their recyclables in exchange for environmental points.
Once at the drop-off point, residents can choose whether they will keep the EPs for themselves or donate it to beneficiaries identified by the barangay from various sectors.
Andrea Villaroman, Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department chief, said the barangay’s chosen beneficiaries would receive groceries or incentive bag from BEST in exchange of the accumulated environmental points donated by the residents from their recyclables.
“The incentive bag will include rice, vegetables from our urban farms, and other necessities. We will ensure that these food packages and groceries will be given and distributed to those in need, especially the most vulnerable sectors of the city,” she noted.
Belmonte said they have plans to introduce the program to various establishments, such as in malls, hotels, and restaurants.
The accumulated environmental points are converted into bXTRA cashback, which can be used to redeem grocery items from the mobile redemption store or bXTRA outlet and bXTRA food deliveries.
Any city resident may register to the bXTRA Website through bXTRA.com.ph to start earning environmental points, while a complete list of partner stores and establishments can also be accessed at the bXTRA.com.ph and order products / services online via bXTRAoutlet.delivery.
