After capping Zero Waste Month (January) with a forum on sustainable waste management (SWM) strategies and the circular economy, Holcim Philippines and unit-Geocycle sealed an agreement with the city government of Carmona and Universal Robina Corporation for a program promoting SWM practices in local communities.

Engr. Samuel O. Manlosa Jr., chief sustainability officer of Holcim Philippines (HP) and senior vice president and head of Geocycle, the co-processing arm of HP; Carmona City Mayor Dr. Dahlia A. Loyola; Dr. Shirlyn C. Reyes, Universal Robina Corp. vice president for global quality, environment, health and safety, and sustainability; and City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rommel Peneyra led the signing of the Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement for the Adopt-A-Community Program, which aims to promote SWM practices in Carmona in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and RA 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility (ERR) Act of 2022.

The agreement is expected to boost HP-Geocycle’s collection of non-recyclable and non-compostable residual waste from communities where its cement plants operate to help Carmona City efficiently divert garbage. The collected wastes, particularly plastic packaging, are used in Holcim plants as fuel for its cement kilns, also known as co-processing.

The technology is not new. HP and its co-processing and SWM arm Geocycle has been actively developing and promoting innovative, customized and safe environmental waste management solutions for more than a decade.  

HP and Geocycle also regularly divert tons of residual waste from villages in Taytay, Rizal as support for the “YES to Green” program of provincial governor Nina Yñares. The program aims to promote cleanliness, environmental protection and responsible waste management in the province.

“YES to Green” and other similar projects aim to train residents on the proper separation of waste in their homes to improve environmental protection, reduce waste, and support sustainable waste management.

SWM forum

Meanwhile, Atty. Ivy Joyce de Pedro of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources emphasized the critical role collaboration plays among the government, private sector, civil society and communities in enforcing the EPR law.

“Partnerships between corporations and the informal sector can enhance waste recovery efforts and participating in these initiatives can build towards a more inclusive and resilient waste management system,” De Pedro said during the forum titled “Pioneering Circularity: Advancing Zero-Waste for a Sustainable Future” organized by HP and Geocycle.

The forum brought together government representatives, private sector leaders, environmental scientists, and non-government organizations to explore forward-thinking strategies and foster collaboration in advancing zero-waste practices.

It also orients participants on the concept of circular economy which addresses the growing environmental challenges posed by plastic waste and microplastics.

“A circular global economy fulfill people’s needs while reducing the materials we extract from the earth,” Christine S. Bellen, project manager of Circular Explorer, said at the forum.

The Circular Explorer is a 100 percent solar-powered recycling catamaran, designed to recover marine plastic waste in the world’s oceans and rivers. It is currently operating in Manila Bay while building awareness on circularity through educational activities.