How to Minimize Your Waste While Living in Metro Manila

There's no question that the Philippines is responsible for producing a ton of waste. The country is fourth behind Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam as the top waste generators in Southeast Asia, as per the United Nations Environment Programme's report on waste management in ASEAN Countries. At this rate, the country produces 14.66 million tonnes of solid waste a year. That's around 0.7 kilograms of trash every day per Filipino.

But on a hopeful note, we aren't totally left grasping at straws. Through small changes and practices, we can do our own part in minimizing our waste and impact on the environment. If you're living in Metro Manila, or even outside the metropolis, here are some tips to help you get started on a low-waste lifestyle.

Reduce Consumption, Plastic Use

In the three Rs of waste management, reduce comes first and foremost. To eliminate the amount of waste we produce, such as plastic and textile, for example, we should reduce our consumption of products that contribute to such waste, such as using single-use plastics like plastic straws and shopping bags and buying new clothes.

To minimize plastic use, you can make small changes in the type of containers you use, such as opting for glass or metal over plastic when it’s time for a replacement. Take note though that if you have plastic containers at home, you should reuse these until they are unusable before buying new, eco-friendly containers.

If you are a woman, another way to reduce your plastic use is by switching to a menstrual cup from disposable napkins. We recommend the Sinaya cup.

Donate Old Clothes

In relation to the first point, minimize contributing to textile waste, which ends up in the landfills, by donating old clothes or selling them instead of throwing them away. As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. You can utilize Facebook Marketplace, Carousell, and even Instagram for selling your preloved items.

When it comes to old gadgets, you can turn to these local initiatives for the responsible disposal of your e-waste! For old clothes, you can donate them to Abot PH, which will distribute your preloved garments to different communities throughout the Philippines. For other old possessions, check out these decluttering groups on Facebook.

Buy in Bulk and Patronize the Palengke

When it comes to doing your shopping, choose to buy from the palengke (local market) where you can bring your own reusable bag for your purchases. The products and produce sold at big supermarkets usually use a lot of unnecessary plastic packaging, so patronizing your local market is one way to reduce your plastic waste.

Another option is to support zero waste or sustainable stores near you. These stores usually sell their products in bulk and encourage you to bring your own containers, thus lessening your use of plastic. Here are some sustainable, zero waste stores in Metro Manila that should be on your radar.

Try Composting

Did you know that the Philippines generates an estimated 9.3 million tonnes of household food waste every year? That translates to 86 kilograms of food waste per Filipino annually.

To reduce your household food waste, we recommend you check out composting! By composting, you are able to turn your spoiled food scraps into fertilizer to nourish your plants. You have two options: bokashi composting, which relies on bokashi bran to speed up the fermentation of organic waste, or vermicomposting, where worms like African Nightcrawlers and red wigglers feed on your organic waste.

Here are stores where you can buy bokashi and vermicomposting kits in and near Manila. Happy composting!