The local government unit (LGU) here, through its Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, has launched Project Rice, a mobile recycling initiative aimed at promoting environmental protection by encouraging residents to segregate waste in exchange for incentives.

Environment officer Jay-Arr Tiguiamo said in an interview on Monday that the program encourages residents to surrender recyclable materials such as dry packs, PET bottles, soft plastics, tetra packs, including caps and rings, in exchange for rice at designated collection points per barangay on a quarterly rotation.

Residents can earn 30 points or 3 kilograms of plastic bottles or assorted plastic wrappers, which can be exchanged for 1 kilogram of rice.

“This program is aligned with Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and Municipal Ordinance No. 2021-002 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Code, which mandates the reduction of waste through segregation, recycling, and composting,” Tiguiamo said.

He said the program has been effective in raising public awareness on proper waste segregation.

He reminded residents that only dried, cleaned and compressed snack pouches, dried packaging and plastic bottles are accepted.

Excluded from the program are aluminum tin cans, carton and paper products, tires, glass materials, PVC materials, tarpaulins and electronic waste. (PNA)