Andrea Pineda is a media professional-turned-elementary teacher with an advocacy that transcends from the classroom. As a private citizen, she is dedicated to fighting the plastic waste menace one garbage bag at a time.

Pineda regularly collects recyclables in support of SM’s Plastic Waste Collection Program. It has been her routine since December 2023. She also encourages her social media followers and the online community to take part in the program.

Last 26 December, Pineda revealed in a Facebook post that her recent landfill waste diversion activity produced 17.5 kilograms of waste consisting mostly of product packaging like bubble wrap and food and gift packaging. She dropped off the recyclables at the collection booth in SM City Fairview.

“So much plastic produced and used over the holidays,” reads Pineda’s caption to a photo showing her with the bags of garbage in front of a steel container.

The previous month, she turned over 23 kilograms of plastic waste to the collection site.

Although her collection is small compared to the huge masses of waste that spill into the oceans, she believes that the practice goes a long way, doubling as a significant favor people can do to their surroundings as the year ends.

“Small acts. Big impact. Our Christmas gift to mother nature,” she says.