The city government here is set to launch the program “Walang Plastikan Bigas Palit Project” to encourage residents to segregate wastes, as well as to reduce if not eliminate the use of plastics.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said on Wednesday that the city government will collect recyclable plastics from Angeleño households in exchange for rice.

“While we are persuading our kababayans to segregate waste into its classifications — biodegradable, non-biodegradable, recyclable, and plastic — there is something waiting for their hard work — a reward of rice,” Lazatin said.

Lazatin’s chief adviser Irish Calaguas said that PHP100 million out of the PHP204 million budget allotted yearly for waste segregation management will be used to purchase rice and equipment needed for the upcoming project.

Calaguas said that part of the allotted budget will be used for the putting up of a designated storage area and redemption trucks that will roam around the city’s 33 barangays daily which will serve as the barter station.

She said the plastics collected will then be sold to companies recycling plastic for hollow blocks and cement.

She also said that the target implementation of the program is in January next year as city officials are still ironing out the details of the guidelines and mechanics of the project. (PNA)