Residents of Apo Island now rinse and dry out their plastic bottles, food cans and other recyclables before throwing them away
Apo Island became the first of the over 7,000 islands in the Philippines to go ‘Zero Waste’, according to the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA).
A popular tourist destination in the central part of the archipelago, the island village (barangay) of about 1,000 people had been struggling with waste management for years.
In 2020, the community, living off the tip of Negros Island, was introduced to effective waste management systems such as:
Information campaigns conducted under the War On Waste Negros Oriental-Zero Waste Cities Project (ZWCP) by GAIA Asia Pacific and 10-member collaborators from India, Indonesia and the Philippines since 2020 enabled households to embrace more efficient waste management solutions.
The small island, a famous scuba-diving spot, now has seven waste workers, four MRFs and an ordinance regulating single-use plastics in the island, according to the organisation. “Residents of the island now rinse and dry out their plastic bottles, food cans and other recyclables before throwing them away.”
Local awareness and action is only a part of the solution as the island has to deal with plastics and other toxic waste depositing on its shore from surrounding landmasses.
Mario Pascobello, a village leader from Apo Island, highlights the lack of environmental consciousness in residents of neighbouring islands for the mounting challenge.
“Strong winds and waves bring the trash from our neighboring towns and communities onto our shores,” he said, adding that ocean currents move towards the island from the northeast.
A zero-waste store and zero-waste elementary and high schools have also been envisioned under the project. A livelihood project by WOW Negros Oriental makes use of discarded clothing to provide local women a means of income.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.