The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Intramuros Administration, ICTSI Foundation, Department of Environment and Public Services of Manila, and the city’s Barangay 655, 657 and 658 launched the mobile materials recovery facility (MMRF) on 30 June.

The MMRF is part of the Metro Manila Flood Management Project that aims to promote recycling by replacing recyclables with groceries.

The project’s slogan of “Recyclables Mo, Palit Grocery Ko” sums up how the MMRF operates.

The facility visits a barangay and its residents are invited to bring recyclables and exchange them for items in a mobile grocery,

“The meaningful initiative reminds us that every recyclable item we save is a step toward protecting our environment, reducing flooding, and helping provide practical benefits to our community,” read a Facebook post from Barangay 657 in Intramuros district.

Participating villagers are registered and given a passbook where the recyclables they bring are recorded and given corresponding points that they can exchange for items in a mobile grocery.

The recyclables, which should be clean and dry are weighed. Every kilo of discarded plastics, paper, metal and glass has a corresponding points that can be exchanged for groceries during redemption day scheduled by the MMDA.

The MMDA leaves the MMRF in the barangay which runs the facility for a year.