Mandaue converts plastic into pillows

The Mandaue City government has piloted in barangay Canduman another breakthrough, this time converting plastic into pillows.

Earlier, a project on recycling plastic into bunker fuel has taken off in barangay Pagsabungan.

Canduman barangay captain Leo Jabas said the barangay’s 4,000 households have already adapted the habit of segregating their garbage. Taking advantage of this, the barangay recycles the plastic materials, including the unused leather donated by Dedon, by shredding these at their materials recovery facility.

The shredded materials are then delivered to a livelihood center in Kobe Housing, which is operated by the Kobe-Canduman Homeowners Association Inc., to be used to stuff pillowcases.

“The project started a few months ago and it has been proven to be viable,” said Jabas, who was awarded as “Outstanding Punong Barangay” during the city’s 44th Charter Day celebration.

Aside from being soft, the pillows are durable and affordable with prices ranging from three pieces for P100 to P100 each for a customized pillow.

The organization started earning a living by making rags and bags, but later shifted to pillow-making since the return of investment is higher.

Jabas, whose barangay also won an environmental award from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is planning to buy clean plastic from every household at P1 or P2 per kilo to motivate everyone in collecting plastics instead of just throwing it.

“This is aimed at getting rid of plastic, the number one culprit of floods since it clogs up the flow of water in the drainage system,” Jabas added.