Pangasinenses enjoy exchanging their collected, segregated and cleaned plastic wastes into goods in the truck store of the province's "Kalinisan Karaban". (Photo courtesy of Provincial Government of Pangasinan)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The provincial government of Pangasinan has collected a total of 14,523 kilograms of plastic wastes, which will be recycled into different products, since it started its “Kalinisan Karaban” or “plastic wastes for goods” advocacy project in February this year.
General Services officer Evan Gladish Domalanta said the province has already purchased equipment that will turn the plastic wastes into new useful products, such as bricks, as they continue to collect plastic wastes in the project’s pilot areas.
“The multiple shredder and automatic bricks assembly equipment are soon to be delivered while many towns and cities are requesting for the Kalinisan Karaban in their areas. There are plans to implement the project province-wide but this is still a plan,” Domalanta said in an interview Tuesday.
Kalinisan Karaban was initiated by Governor Amado Espino III aiming to clear the streets of Pangasinan of plastic wastes and encourage love for the environment through segregation. It was initially launched in the towns of Bugallon, Bautista, Tayug towns and San Carlos City.
Domalanta explained the Kalinisan Karaban store truck started going around last month and will stay in a designated place where residents can bring their segregated wastes such as plastic containers, shampoo sachets, sando bags and candy wrappers, which will be weighed and exchanged with goods.
“Every kilo of plastic wastes is equivalent to PHP15, which they could use to buy goods from our store truck,” she said.
Domalanta reiterated the need to segregate the plastic wastes, noting that containers should be separated from wrappers and sando bags.
“It is the objective of the project to teach the residents to segregate,” Domalanta said.
The collection and trading of plastic to goods will be done on a weekly basis in close coordination with barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan of every community in the pilot areas.
Domalanta further said the project was institutionalized through Provincial Ordinance 32-2019 by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on March 4.
“It is the aim of the province to institutionalize public participation in the implementation of the Kalinisan Karaban program through the promotion of individual responsibility towards reusing, reducing, and recycling of household plastic wastes,” Provincial Ordinance 32-2019 stated.
Domalanta commended the SP’s move as the institutionalization provided funding worth PHP1.5 million for the project, as well as ensure its regularity as an activity in the province.
“There is a plan to put up redemption centers all over the province where Pangasinenses can exchange their plastic wastes to different goods, including cellphone load and school supplies aside from groceries” she said. (PNA)
