In Allacapan, Cagayan, sacks of plastic bottles and snack wrappers are no longer just trash as they can be exchanged for rice and groceries under the local government’s “Oplan Palit Basura” program.

Residents gather every morning carrying bags of discarded plastics, not to dump them, but to trade them for food items. For every kilo of plastic wrappers or bottles, participants receive rice and other goods.

According to Jhomar Jimeno Salem, Officer-in-Charge of MENRO-Allacapan, the program has collected large amounts of waste every year.

“As per record siguro every year kasi estimate namin nasa 5 tons ang nakokolekta po. ‘Yun nga ginagawa namin minsan kinukuha namin ‘yung mga basura sa estero, pag natapos na namin ‘yung sa mga barangay,” Salem said.

The collected plastics are not wasted. They are shredded and processed through a hydraulic brick-maker, creating eco-bricks used in schools and nurseries.

“’Yung sa bricks naman po ginagamit namin sa pagpapaganda ng mga schools, mga nursery schools. Pag magre-request ang DepEd binibigyan po namin sila. Pero actually may bumibili naman po na private para sa mga landscaping, binebenta namin ang bawat bricks ng 13 pesos. Napupunta po sa ESWM trust fund ng munisipyo (napagbentahan),” Salem added.

Even schoolchildren take part in the effort.

In schools, plastics are exchanged for supplies and hygiene kits, teaching the youth the value of proper waste disposal and segregation.

The MENRO said the program helps reduce flooding caused by trash-clogged esteros. It is supported by local ordinances with penalties for improper garbage disposal.