PAMPANGA, Philippines – The numbers tell the story: around 5,000 students, thousands of plastic sachets, and a school system wanting to keep waste under control.
At the San Fernando Elementary School (SFES) in Pampanga’s capital, students have begun an ambitious effort to turn single-use plastic waste into school furniture.
The initiative, officially launched on Monday, February 10, comes as classrooms – and landfills – overflow with discarded plastic, a byproduct of everyday life in the country.
The effort is spearheaded by Eco Protect Management Corporation (EPMC), which on February 7 introduced its “Lunes Malinis” (Clean Monday) project. The concept is simple: students bring used plastic sachets from home every Monday morning, EPMC collects them, and the waste is upcycled into plastic armchairs – one chair for every 18 kilograms of sachets gathered.
Two large trash bins, donated by EPMC, now stand on the school grounds as visible reminders of the program’s mission.
Marilen Calma, the school principal, the initiative is as much about education as it is about waste reduction.
As the city’s largest public elementary school, SFES struggles with the sheer volume of garbage produced by its student body. Waste disposal remains a daily challenge despite efforts to teach students the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle.
“We know that one of our biggest problems is garbage. We have 5,000 learners and each contributes to the solid waste, disposal is a constant challenge. There are efforts but through this program, what we throw away can be turned into something beneficial for the students,” said Calma.
“We teach solid waste management to students, it’s in the curriculum, but without seeing actual products made from the waste they discard, it’s hard for young students to fully understand. This project will make them more aware of the importance of recycling,” she added.
Allaine Tan, EPMC president and chief executive officer, said 15% of their waste comes from single-use plastic.
She said the project will initially roll out across Pampanga, including Angeles City, Mabalacat City, and Porac town, with plans to expand to the rest of Region III, beginning with Bulacan province.
Tan said the process begins by shredding the plastic and converting it into resin at an upcycling facility in Malabon. The resin is then molded into trash bins and armchairs. The process is environmentally friendly, she said.
“We need to start with the public schools first and then we will partner with private schools. I know this will eventually become bigger,” she said.
Tan said they were waiting for the green light of the Environmental Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) in the region for a partnership.
EPMC operates a 34-hectare Category 4 sanitary landfill in Porac town with a daily capacity of 2,500 tons. The landfill, which opened in November 2021, primarily serves Pampanga’s tri-cities and focuses on household solid waste. – Rappler.com