MANILA, Philippines — To regulate plastic usage and encourage proper disposal of waste through recycling, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in a village in Narcarlan, Laguna has set up the “Palit Plastic Bottle Sari-sari Store” project that gives residents school supplies in exchange for 1.5-liter and 1.75-liter plastic bottles.
The SK council of Barangay Banilad posted on its Facebook page the specifics of the green initiative, which is meant to help provide students in the community with school materials as the opening of classes for the new academic year draws near.
“Proyektong PANG-EDUKASYON at PANGKALIKASAN! Kapalit ng “plastic bottle” niyo ay mga school supplies para sa nalalapit na pasukan,” the group wrote in the caption.
The youth council said two plastic bottles can be exchanged for one notebook while one bottle is enough for a sharpener.
Meanwhile, a pair of plastic bottles is required to get a pencil, and four plastic bottles can be exchanged for a box of eight crayons.
The youth council’s post has received cheers and praises online, amassing more than 5,000 Facebook reactions and above 10,000 shares as of posting time.
In February, Barangay Tartaria in Silang, Cavite also came up with a project that would give locals a kilogram of rice in exchange for a kilogram of plastic. It quickly went viral.