The Alaminos City government in Pangasinan, through its Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO), continues to accept recyclable solid waste from residents in exchange for grocery items.

The “Palit Basura” program, launched in January 2025, promotes solid waste management by encouraging the exchange of non-biodegradable wastes—such as plastic bottles, tin cans, aluminum, paper items like coupon bonds, assorted papers, newspapers, tetra packs, PVCs, carton boxes, copper, metals, steel, and dead vehicle batteries—for grocery items.

According to Alaminos ENRO data, 690 residents collected a total of 8,155.8 kilograms of recyclable materials from January through December 2025.

ENRO has collected 9,355.25 kg from January to August this year from 532 residents. The total value of grocery items exchanged with the residents was PHP82,348.71.

During a phone interview on Tuesday, Alaminos ENRO officer Rosalie Aruelo said the recyclables were taken to a partner junk shop that also operates a grocery store for the program.

“The amount will depend on the prevailing price at junk shops. The cumulative amount of their recyclables will have corresponding grocery food items,” she said.

The junk shop owner reprocesses the collected waste, which should have been cleaned and dried, into new products, Aruelo said.

Aruelo noted that the ENRO conducts a monthly caravan in various barangays for the program. (PNA)