FOR some unemployed residents in Mandaue City, discarded items are becoming a lifeline. By collecting and selling recyclable materials at a temporary dumpsite and the Mandaue Green Learning Park in Barangay Umapad, they are earning up to P500 a day.
Gina Caranggi, a regular recycler in the area, has found steady work turning waste into income. She explained that plastic items are the best to collect because they are easy to find and buyers accept them quickly.
“Plastic items are easier to sell, similar to mobile phones which can also be resold easily. We can find these materials quickly, but most of what I collect are plastics,” Caranggi said in Cebuano.
Making ends meet
Caranggi usually works from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., gathering materials like plastic bottles, basins, buckets, and other household items.
The earnings depend entirely on the weight of the items collected. Buyers pay P5 per kilo for plastic items, while cartons are bought at P3 per kilo.
On good days, Caranggi takes home as much as P500. She noted that her daily income depends on how long she works and how much she can gather, but a good day’s work is enough for her needs.
She emphasized how important this opportunity is for the community.
“This temporary dumpsite has been a big help. There are many people here who are unemployed, and through the dumpsite, they are able to earn money,” she said.
Modest earnings
Joy Epe, another recycler, shared a similar story. While the work is hard, she said that cartons and plastic gallons have steady buyers.
“There are buyers for cartons and gallons. The amount we earn really depends on how much we are able to collect,” Epe said in Cebuano.
Epe broke down the prices further. Plastic gallons, often used for cleaning products like bleach, sell for P5 per kilo. Cartons are priced at P3 per kilo, while mineral water bottles have a higher value at P8 per kilo.
On slower days, Epe earns about P200, but she earns more when there are plenty of materials to find.
“It really depends on what we can gather. There are days when the earnings are higher, and there are also days when they are lower,” she said.
A lifeline for locals
Despite the fluctuating income, Epe is grateful for the opportunity.
“The income may be small, but it still helps us survive. We asked permission to collect recyclables here at the Mandaue Green Learning Park so we could earn money,” she said.
The experiences of Caranggi and Epe highlight a vital connection between the community and the environment. These waste segregation and recycling sites are not just helping manage trash; they are providing essential daily income for residents who rely on informal work to meet their basic needs. / ABC