SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- Companies, workers and residents brought used light bulbs, car batteries, unused paints, electronic discards, and even old air conditioners to an empty lot here over the weekend and joined the Subic Bay community in a collection program to recycle wastes and donate the proceeds to charity.
The project was the fourth in a series of Recyclables Collection Event (RCE) organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in line with its “War on Waste” program.
SBMA chairman and administrator Wilma Eisma said the biannual SBMA activity encourages Subic stakeholders to help keep the Subic Bay Freeport clean by collecting recyclable materials and bringing them to accredited waste handlers for recovery and upcycling.
“With these periodic recyclable collection events, we hope to be able to control or minimize the illegal disposal of solid, toxic and hazardous wastes in both the land and water bodies in the Freeport, and, thus, help secure the local environment for future generations, as well as for economic sustainability,” Eisma said.
Among the most common waste materials collected during the activity were busted fluorescent bulbs, used industrial and domestic oil, used lead acid batteries, empty printer ink cartridges, and other electronic wastes.
SBMA Ecology Center manager Amethya Dela Llana said the activity is conducted in partnership with the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Bureau of Customs in Subic, and various treater, storage and disposal (TSD) companies in Manila and Central Luzon, which collect waste products.
During the third RCE in November last year, the SBMA collected some P186,630 in waste products sold to TSD’s and the cash proceeds was donated to the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation.
SBMA Ecology Center records on the 3rd RCE indicated that the top donors of recyclable materials Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. (Phils.), which brought in P55,165 worth of recyclables; Hitachi Terminals, P12,588; Mega Subic Terminal Services, P10,539; and Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, with P10,530.
Dela Llana said the SBMA is expecting to surpass the previous RCE collection, as more locators and residents have committed to bring in waste materials for the 4th RCE.
She added that the enthusiastic participation of the Subic community will help ensure a healthy environment with clean rivers, mountains and other natural wonders that the public can enjoy.
The 4th Recyclable Collection Event was also highlighted by the re-launching of the anti-smoke belching program in the Subic Bay Freeport by transportation groups, and an art activity conducted by artist-environmentalist Badz Magsumbol for Ayta children from the Cawag community in Subic, Zambales. (Ric Sapnu)