Proper waste segregation can make a meaningful environmental impact when the correct bins are used. At SM Supermalls, the Recyclable–Disposable–Compostable (RDC) system empowers customers to take part in a nationwide Green Movement. The initiative aims to promote circularity, divert waste from landfills, reduce methane emissions, and prevent soil and water contamination.

“Through SM’s RDC bins, we are not only encouraging customers to adopt responsible waste disposal habits, but also enhancing the efficiency of our waste management systems to better serve our communities. Waste is often an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ issue, so we are committed to ensuring that our approach delivers tangible environmental benefits,” said SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Sustainability, Liza Silerio.

As part of its #SMWasteFreeFuture project, SM’s waste processing arm, SM GUUN Environmental Company, was established in Consolacion, Cebu, in 2024. There, waste collected from in-mall RDC bins is corrected and re-sorted for conversion into industrial raw materials for recycling, fuel, or soil.

“An ecosystem of corporate partners enables us to optimize our waste management processes and ensure that recovered materials are reintegrated into the value chain. Through this closed-loop approach, waste is transformed into reusable resources and given a renewed purpose beyond its initial lifecycle,” Silerio said.

Blue Bin: Recyclable to RECYCLED

"Recyclable is only a promise, but RECYCLED is a promise kept”

Recyclables are limited to bottles (plastic and glass), cans (aluminum and tin), and cartons, which have the highest recycling infrastructure. They are sorted by material type at the factory and returned to corporate and development partners for reprocessing, including MultiPly for paper; San Miguel Yamamura and Asia Brewery Incorporated for glass; Coca-Cola’s recycling arm, PETvalue; and Nature Spring’s NS Sustainability Solutions for plastic bottles.

Gray Bin: Disposable to FUEL

Disposables such as cups, straws, rags, and other hard-to-recycle containers are processed into coal alternative fuel at the waste processing factory. The waste undergoes sorting, formulating, and shredding to fuel cement manufacturing, with ash reused as cement material. Cement partners include DMCI (Concreat), Holcim (Geocycle), and Republic (Ecoloop).

Green Bin: Compostable to SOIL

Compostables, mainly food scraps, are converted into landscaping soil within 48 hours, avoiding landfills and reducing methane gas emissions. The resulting soil is used for landscaping and urban greening projects, supported by partners such as J.Co, BlueSkye Go Circular, Goldilocks, and Fat Hopes Energy.

“Changing habits is hard, but we’ll make it easier. All SM Supermalls are equipped with RDC bins, enabling our customers to actively participate in meaningful sustainability efforts that help protect the environment. Each time they visit our malls, they have the opportunity to contribute to our shared goal of achieving a Waste-Free Future,” Silerio said. “While waste remains an escalating challenge both locally and globally, SM firmly believes in the power of community and collective action to address even the most complex environmental issues.”

Last year, the Philippines diverted more than 246 million kilograms of plastic waste, surpassing the national diversion target with a recorded rate of 56%, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).