The “Plastic Palit Bigas,” or “plastic for rice,” program involves residents of the town of Mabini, near the Philippine capital, who exchange bags of trash collected on the beach — regardless of weight — for one kilogram of rice.
Led by Giulio Endaya and his group of volunteers, the project is funded by donations from individuals and small businesses that advocate for marine conservation.
Mabini is a popular diving destination located in the Coral Triangle, a global hub of marine biodiversity spanning six countries including the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
“The area has seen an increase in the amount of trash washing up along its shores each year,” Endaya said.
“I’ve seen sea turtles entangled in nets and other types of plastic. And recently we’ve been finding more and more microplastics, even in the fish we eat, so they’re harmful to us too,” he added.
According to the project leader, since the cleanup efforts began in October 2022, more than 4,300 kilograms of garbage have been collected and exchanged for a total of 2,600 kilograms of rice.
The program has been a “huge help” for some residents, like Janeth Acevedo, 46, who has struggled with the rising costs of basic goods like rice.
“In a month I need four and a half bags of rice, now all I have to buy is two bags, which is a big help in saving money,” said the resident as she sorted the trash during a clean-up campaign.
The Philippines is the world’s worst polluter when it comes to releasing plastic waste into the ocean, accounting for 36% of the global total, according to an updated April 2022 report from the University of Oxford’s “Our World in Data” project.
Source: CNN Brasil
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