MWRP Philippines: Community and Market-Based Solid Waste Management Solutions

Although the Philippines has passed legislation and created incentives at the national level for comprehensive solid waste management (SWM), supervision and rules enforcement are still weak at the subnational level, leading to mismanaged plastics entering the ocean. Currently less than a quarter of Metro Manila’s barangays1 effectively implement a SWM system.

Although the Philippines has passed legislation and created incentives at the national level for comprehensive solid waste management (SWM), supervision and rules enforcement are still weak at the subnational level, leading to mismanaged plastics entering the ocean. Currently less than a quarter of Metro Manila’s barangays1 effectively implement a SWM system.

A LOCAL SYSTEMS APPROACH

The City Empowerment for Local and Market-Based Solid Waste Management Solutions project established and strengthened community-based SWM committees in six very poor barangays (total population 105,000) of Metro Manila to promote a local, sustainable, and integrated approach to SWM. The project trained barangay authorities on SWM laws and good practices and helped them to develop and implement localized SWM plans, strengthening waste collection, landfill diversion, and plastic recycling in their communities.