"Trash to Cash" generates jobs to Barangay Luz residents

CEBU, Philippines - After successfully implementing the proper waste segregation system in Brgy Luz, Brgy Captain Nida Cabrera shared that they have seen that the effect of their actions was more than just protecting the environment.

“It has given employment to our residents and has helped them gain more income. It also attracted investors which had a big help in the people in our barangay” said Cabrera.

Brgy. Luz, which has been recognized for its thriving realization of the solid waste management act, has been one of the examples that the local government has done for other communities to follow in the concern of waste segregation.

Cabrera said that with just P10,000, they already have their own composting facility which means the communities’ waste after segregated, is being processed or recycled for other products resulting in lessening the garbage contribution in the city’s collection.

According to Cabrera, the practice that they are currently doing is helping their residents have the accomplishment of not only helping protect the environment, but also on gaining more income.

Cabrera explained that they have different products being produced through plastic and paper like tetra pack bags and also accessories.

She said that theses bags are becoming a favorite among foreign countries who are also practicing segregation and these have invited a lot of investors to their barangay.

Countries include Netherlands, Europe and the United States who have regular orders monthly.

Cabrera said that they train the residents once a week on how to do a certain product and after, they do it in their own homes.

She said that this is also a good business for the youth and the children who would want to help out in their homes or find a source of income for their own while they are in the safety of their houses.

Aside from the waste of the community being segregated, Brgy Luz has also partnered with Cebu Holdings Incorporated    wherein the company’s recyclable waste like plastic and paper goes to Brgy Luz in order for them to have more materials for their products.

The project dubbed as “Trash to Cash” program has helped more residents have a stable income and has reduced 60 to 80 tons a months in three years.

Elso Gomez of CHI said that their alliance with the barangay is not solely on the purpose of solid waste management but on entrepreneurship, education and environment.

Gomez said that they as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility and their goal to help out mitigate the problem on garbage in the Cebu , they ask their employees to bring the recyclable materials to work at the end of the week and all those collected is sent to Brgy. Luz.