Solon wants recyclable trash exchanged for rice or cash

MANILA, Philippines — A party-list lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to give 1 kilogram (kg) of rice,  or its equivalent in cash or goods for every 1 kg of recyclable trash surrendered by an individual or an organization.

In filing House Bill No. 9170 on Monday, Deputy Minority Leader and Aangat Tayo Rep. Harlin Neil Abayon III said the proposed law would encourage consumers to segregate and recycle materials to help solve the country’s problem with plastic garbage.

“This is what we envision will happen when this bill is enacted into law. A whole nation actively engaged in segregating and recycling their waste because they are well-motivated to do so,” Abayon said in a statement.

Under the bill, consumers may bring non-hazardous and recyclable plastic wastes to redemption centers in exchange for rice, consumer items, or cash.

The minimum exchange value of 1 kg of non-hazardous and recyclable plastic waste is 1 kg of commercial quality rice or its cash equivalent, while 1 kg of metallic, non-hazardous, recyclable waste is 2 kgs of commercial quality rice or its cash equivalent.

The bill also puts to task the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)  to lead the implementation of the proposed law together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Examples of solid wastes indicated in the bill are plastic bottles, wrappers, bags, sachets, metal canisters, unserviceable or used electrical and electronic devices, discarded hardware and recyclable computer parts.

For hazardous waste recovery, the bill authorizes the DENR, DTI, and DA to establish a Hazardous Waste Recovery Protocols and Reporting System, through which individuals may report the exact location and details of the suspected hazardous waste.  /muf