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The world is currently in its make-or-break decade in saving the environment. This is what General Assembly president Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces said during the 73rd session of the United Nations high-level meeting on climate change and sustainable development held on March 23, 2019.

Decades of plastic pollution has taken its toll on Mother Earth, and we need to act now before the damage becomes irreversible.

The Philippines ranked as the third largest source of plastic leaking into the ocean, according to a 2015 report of the Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment.

Moreover, we have also been declared as the country in Southeast Asia with the highest volume of unmanaged plastic waste.

Most plastics do not biodegrade or decompose like food waste. They only break down into smaller pieces called microplastics and if they find their way into the ocean, fishes will consume them and so the microplastics end up in the seafood that we eat.

Plus, plastics also end up killing some marine wildlife because they can choke on them or get entangled in them.

A mountain of garbage in Indonesia / Source: Pexels

Fortunately, not all hope is lost. As many Filipinos have started acting on resolving this massive plastic pollution problem.

Several local government units like El Nido, Palawan and Quezon City have already implemented plastic bans.

Quezon City has originally announced its ban on single-use plastics in January 2020. Although it was temporarily lifted in May 2020 due to the localized guidelines amid the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) at the time, it has announced the resumption of its implementation on March 1, 2021.

Famous tourist destination El Nido, Palawan, on the other hand, has banned the use of plastic coffee stirrers and plastic drinking straws.

Know where you can bring your used plastics for recycling / Source: Pexels

Moreover, some young Filipinos have also invented ingenious creations that can help solve the Philippines's plastic pollution problem.

A group of Electircal and Computer Engineering students developed a trash-collecting boat, while a team of young Filipinas invented a flip-flop made out of recycled plastics that doubles as a power bank.

So, if you want to do you share in reducing plastic waste, here's GMA Lifestyle's list of recycling initiatives and/or facilities where you can bring your plastic bags to give them a second life.

Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX)

Non-profit organization Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX) partners with several sustainability-conscious businesses worldwide to reduce plastic pollution. They have many drop-off points for post-consumer plastics in the cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasay, and Quezon City.

SM Malls

SM Malls are among businesses who partnered with PCX in establishing accessible plastic waste drop-off points, so more people would be encouraged to get into recycling used plastics.

People can drop off their cleaned and dried plastic waste at the SM Mall of Asia (SM MOA), SM Megamall, SM City Fairview, and SM City North EDSA daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Green Antz Builders and Ayala Malls

Green Antz Builders has partnered with Ayala Malls and are doing a drop-off point tour in different Ayala Malls weekly. Follow them on Facebook to get updates on their next locations.

The Plastic Flamingo/The Plaf

Social enterprise The Plastic Falamingo, a.k.a. The Plaf, gives used plastics a second life by transforming them into better products. They have a warehouse in Muntinlupa City where you can drop off your cleaned plastics on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can bring your plastic waste to their partner drop-off points such as Decathlon branches in Pasig, Alabang, and Masinag (Antipolo), Ayala UP Town Center, Aksyon ng Kabataan Organization in Marikina, Kalikhasan Eco-Friendly Solutions in Merville, Parañaque, Delichoice Inc. in Greenwoods Executive Village, Cainta, and select SM Malls (SM Moa, Megamall, North EDSA, and Fairview).

With plenty of options for drop-off points, there's almost no excuse to not get into recycling. So, gather and clean your used plastics ASAP and bring them to the recycling facility or drop-off point nearest to you.

For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

Thinking of adapting to a more sustainable lifestyle? Get ideas from the gallery below.