A private company, and a circular economy and innovation group have stepped up a program on plastic waste collection to achieve plastic neutrality.

The program initiated by Colgate-Palmolive Philippines and Green Antz Builders includes agreements with the governments of Manila, Quezon City and Taguig in collaboration with Department of Education (DepEd) units and City Environment and Natural Resources Offices, a news release said.

The program also encompasses drop-off points for plastic waste in various Ayala Malls in Metro Manila.

Colgate-Palmolive PH and Green Antz celebrated the first year of a closed loop plastic waste management initiative in Bulacan that diverted from the environment hundreds of tons of plastic waste in cooperation with five local government units (LGUs) and 112 public schools under the auspices of the DepEd.

The LGUs are those of Baliuag, Malolos City, Plaridel, Pulilan and San Ildefonso.

The plastic waste is collected by the LGUs, communities and schools, and sent to Green Antz to make into eco-bricks.

They are then used in the building of “Wash and Brush Stations,” which are turned over to the LGUs. Some 20 handwashing stations have been constructed during the period.

An innovative and visionary social enterprise, Green Antz offers building and housing solutions that integrate eco-friendly practices and green technologies in its products and services.

The company helps create livelihood opportunities as it produces eco-bricks, eco-pavers, and other materials composed, in part, of plastic waste. Its tagline is “Creating Sustainability. Challenging Poverty. Now.”

The Bulacan initiative covers more than 2,000 teachers and almost 70,000 students, who, besides collecting plastic waste, learn proper solid waste management habits at an early age.

The initiative is changing residents’ mindsets on plastic waste, inspiring new behavior and understanding about environmental responsibility. Plastic waste is exchanged for bond paper, printers, segregation bins, clock towers, thermal scanners or alcohol dispensers for schools.

Incentives for Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices and collectors include rice and grocery packages.

Marking their first-year milestone in Bulacan, Colgate-Palmolive PH and Green Antz renewed their partnership agreement as well as a memorandum of understanding with the Municipality of Plaridel.

A new “Wash and Brush Station” at the Plaridel Municipal Hall was turned over to Mayor Tessie Vistan by Colgate-Palmolive PH President and General Manager Arvind Sachdev and Green Antz President and CEO Rommel Benig.

“I am always on the lookout for trusted allies in delivering essential services to our constituents. The LGU needs partners, especially in our goal to safeguard the environment. We are very pleased that we can count on Colgate-Palmolive Philippines and Green Antz Builders, both committed like us to provide for a more sustainable future,” Vistan remarked.

Sachdev said: “Plastic waste is one of our most serious environmental problems, globally and locally. At Colgate-Palmolive PH, we have the responsibility to be part of the solution and take a leadership role to confront the plastic waste challenge.“

“We are allocating resources to divert plastic waste away from landfills and the ocean, to help collect, recover and recycle the equivalent amount of plastic we generate in the market and achieve our vision of achieving plastic neutrality,” Sachdev added.

“We are not just collecting plastic waste,” he said. “We are also providing Filipinos with more sustainable products, like the eco-friendly Colgate Bamboo toothbrush with biodegradable and compostable handles. Our Palmolive Shampoo and Palmolive Soap sachets are now in mono-material recycle-ready packaging. Our Colgate Naturals Toothpaste is in recyclable tubes.”

He said that Colgate-Palmolive is “making sure that our packaging systems in the future will use less plastic. This way we are increasing the acceptability of Colgate-Palmolive products’ packaging in the recycling stream.”

Sachdev said that renewing partnerships, “is our way of continuing our commitment to preserve the environment and to make the planet a better place.”

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