Team members
Hector Brizuela
Team Leader
Carlo Fong Luy
Team Member
Benjie M. Bautista
Team Member
Plastic Pollution Challenge
The Philippines is the third largest contributor of marine plastic pollution with an estimated 0.75 million metric tons of mismanaged plastic entering the ocean every year. Inefficiencies in collection, transportation, and disposal systems lead to marine litter and plastic pollution. The Island Garden City of Samal (IGCoS) is a coastal city situated at the heart of Davao Gulf. Like many growing towns in the Philippines, Samal Island continues to grapple with large volumes of plastic waste generated on the island and washed up on its shores. Only a portion of the waste generated ends up being recycled. In the first quarter of 2021, the local government of IGCoS noted that only 24.8 tons of garbage collected was classified as recyclable compared to the 1,860 tons of residual wastes. Significant volumes go into a 7,500 sqm landfill that opened in 2021 after the previous 2,500 sqm was filled. At this rate, the new landfill will reach capacity in just 10 years.
While there is a keen interest among stakeholders (including businesses and resorts in the important tourism sector) to adopt a circular economic model in IGCoS, without a viable system in place, IGCoS will continue to grapple with marine plastic pollution threatening its biodiversity and its desirability as a tourist destination.
The proposed project promotes a ground-up model integrating IGCoS residents and businesses as active players in a circular model of plastic upcycling. PTC together with the Regional Director for Tourism in Davao, the mayor’s office, and Envirotech Waste Recycling, Inc. will set-up a comprehensive and transformational system to plug the gaps in plastic waste management. Plastic waste that is collected, segregated and processed locally will be upcycled into souvenirs, furniture, and useful in-demand items to promote a profitable and sustainable value chain.
Solution
If we bring together the different stakeholders in Samal Island to establish an integrated collection and upcycling value chain for plastic waste, then the local community can reduce plastic waste leakage into the environment; reduce the amount going into landfills; and benefit from innovative upcycled products as a source of income.
Innovation
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Systems innovation: This is a multistakeholder solution that creates an inclusive system involving Samal Island communities and businesses, local government authorities, the Department of Tourism, and upcyclers. -
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Focused on the island’s strength: By upcycling plastic wastes to become useful items in the tourism industry, the solution will provide opportunities for communities to make a livelihood that will also advance tourism in the island. -
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Locally-owned: The solution is grounded in local realities and seeks to localize the upcycling process and keep the value-add in the local economy. It seeks to provide livelihood opportunities to local individuals.
Contact
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