The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) kicked off its 10-year Road to Zero Waste program on Tuesday, seeking to reduce waste through solid waste management and information campaigns.

The program was launched through the two-day Road to Zero Waste Summit at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City.

During the summit, MMDA chair Don Artes said the zero-waste program aims to transform waste management practices in the National Capital Region towards a more sustainable “circular economy” where waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery would result in zero waste reaching the country’s landfills in 10 years.

“The program is designed to encompass all types of waste generated in the metropolis, focusing on innovative approaches that transform solid waste into valuable resources,” Artes said.

The program is a partnership among the MMDA, such national government agencies as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units (LGUs), and private partners, among others.

“Today marks the beginning of a dynamic collaboration between the government and the private sector intended to bridge the gap in promoting environmental sustainability,” he said.

MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana said the zero-waste plan adheres to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the Extended Producer’s Responsibility Act (EPRA) of 2022, which requires plastic producers to recover at least 20 percent of their plastic output since 2023 and up to 80 percent by 2028.

“We cannot ignore the urgent need to address these waste types. If left unattended, they will continue to degrade our environment, pollute our waterways, contribute increasingly to flooding, and hinder our economic growth, ultimately impacting our economy and overall public health,” Lipana said.

The two-day summit will conclude on Wednesday and features forums led by resource speakers from various sectors for different advocacies, ranging from community to metro-wide approaches.

Several booths also feature the solid waste management efforts of government and private offices and their products, such as clothes and recycled plastic furniture. (PNA)