Trash traders earn P28 million from 12 million kilos of recyclables collected in 2024.
Student weighs recyclables with his teacher at SM Cares’ ‘Trash to Cash,’ proving that every small effort adds up to a greener future.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SM SUPERMALLS
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In 2024, participants to SM Supermalls’ “Trash to Cash” (TTC) program earned P28 million for collecting and exchanging more than 12 million kilograms of recyclables at 87 SM malls nationwide.
The amount of traded trash is equivalent to 204,000 trees saved if all recyclable wastes are paper or a reduction of 18,000 tons of carbon emission if all recyclable wastes are plastic.
More than just a recycling initiative, TTC empowers individuals, organizations, and businesses by making sustainability a rewarding and community-driven practice.
“TTC is more than just a recycling program — it’s a movement that enables communities to turn environmental responsibility into real opportunities. By participating, people not only contribute to waste reduction but also gain financial incentives, proving that sustainability can be both impactful and rewarding,” said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.
Every first Friday and Saturday of the month, SM Supermalls transforms into a recycling market, where individuals can exchange recyclable waste for cash.
The TTC initiative, part of SM Supermalls’ Waste-Free Future campaign, has been a long-running program. Since its inception in 2007, the program encourages waste segregation, recycling, and environmental awareness while also benefiting communities financially.
It provides a convenient and accessible platform for shoppers, tenants and local communities to participate in sustainable waste management.
By ensuring that recyclables are properly sorted and repurposed, TTC also actively contributes to the circular economy, reinforcing SM Supermalls’ commitment to responsible environmental stewardship.
