Rotary Club launches ‘rice-for-plastics waste’ program
DAGUPAN residents can now exchange their plastic wastes for rice under the Bigas Para Plastic program initiated by the Rotary Club of Central Pangasinan with the cooperation of the Parents-Teachers Association in Barangay Bonuan Boquig.
Eric Maala of the Rotary Club, an advocate for the environment, explained that all kinds of plastics, except those that junkshops buy, can be exchanged for rice of equivalent weight.
The twin goal of the program, launched in Sitio Longos in Barangay Bonuan Boquig last week, is to address the garbage disposal problem of the city and to help lower malnutrition.
Maala said the program will encourage more households to practice waste segregation and reduce the amount of garbage thrown to the city’s dumpsite.
Teddy Villamil Jr., officer-in-charge of the waste management division, said the program is timely and relevant since most of the residual wastes produced by the city folk are made of plastic.
Villamil added that Barangay Bonuan Boquig is an excellent choice as a pioneer site since city’s open dumpsite is situated in the area.
Several residents of Sitio Longos who will work in the facility are now undergoing training.
The plastics collected will be treated in a plastic reforming facility and converted mainly into briquettes used to kindle fire.
Maala said he has long been advocating for this program, and the first sector to adopt the scheme was the San Fabian public market.
He expressed hope that all communities in northern Luzon will soon implement the program.
Maala said he is ready to teach interested parties, both public and private, on how to implement the program. At the same time, he called on potential sponsors to donate rice. (PIA-Pangasinan)
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