Quezon City’s trash program covers bills payment

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City residents can now pay electricity and other bills using accumulated points from exchanging recyclable and single use plastics under the local government’s “Trash to Cashback” waste trading program.

The city government this week signed an agreement with BeepXtra and Bayad Center to expand the initiative and allow residents to use “environmental points” to pay their bills.

“Quezon City residents can now use their environmental points as Bayad App credits that can be redeemed for utility bills payment,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

“Aside from getting points or credits for bills payment, we are also able to promote the importance of recycling and proper waste segregation,” Belmonte added.

Three Bayad Center branches located in Ever Commonwealth, Sauyo and Gulod will take part in the 90-day pilot launch of the program.

Participants who want to redeem environmental points to pay utility bills must create a Bayad App account, with a minimum of 200 points needed for redemption. One environmental point is equivalent to P1.

Launched in partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies, the “Trash to Cashback” program allows Quezon City residents to trade plastic, metal and paper waste into environmental points, which can be exchanged for basic commodities such as rice, eggs and vegetables.

To collect environmental points, residents can bring their recyclables at designated My Basurero Eco-Community kiosks across the city.

Metal, paper, boxes and other single-use plastics such as shampoo sachets, coffee packs and online shopping plastic packages will be accepted in the drop-off points.

Andrea Villaroman, who heads the Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, advised residents to clean and dry their recyclables before bringing these to the drop-off sites.

Drop-off sites will also be established at Meralco business centers in Commonwealth, Kamuning and Novaliches.