MWPR Philippines: Introducing Zero Waste to Batangas City

Batangas City manages a centralized waste collection system subcontracted with a private company, the Metrowaste Solid Waste Management Corporation (Metrowaste), which operates daily waste collection services for biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and residual wastes. While Metrowaste covers most parts of the city, many households reside too far from the truck collection routes and therefore have no access to solid waste management (SWM) services. This situation results in illegal dumping and trash burning.

Batangas City manages a centralized waste collection system subcontracted with a private company, the Metrowaste Solid Waste Management Corporation (Metrowaste), which operates daily waste collection services for biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and residual wastes. While Metrowaste covers most parts of the city, many households reside too far from the truck collection routes and therefore have no access to solid waste management (SWM) services. This situation results in illegal dumping and trash burning.

The Mother Earth Foundation will provide technical assistance to Batangas City Environment and Natural Resources Office to develop a zero-waste approach to solid waste management, including recycling, in 30 out of 105 barangays in the city. A Filipino non-governmental organization that works on a range of environmental issues, Mother Earth Foundation has built the capacity of marginalized communities, government agencies, schools, civic organizations, and businesses on how to plan and implement ecological SWM programs. The Mother Earth Foundation has advised several municipal and provincial governments in successfully implementing zero waste projects. For example, as a result of improvements made in SWM, the city of San Fernando was able to divert 72% of its waste from landfills. Similarly, a barangay in Manila was able to divert 92% of its solid waste after implementing a program developed by Mother Earth Foundation.