Zero Waste Is Possible

Three, Two, One ... Zero Waste!

by: Erica Charleen Baluan

“Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.” (Adapted from the Zero Waste Definition of the Zero Waste International Alliance)

Zero waste, simply means that of all the wastes we generate, nothing will be wasted. Two years ago, in my NSTP class, Mother Earth Foundation introduced the concept of zero waste to me. That time, I just knew it like any lesson to be memorized. I did not expect that two years after, in our summer practicum, zero waste and I would meet again, but this time is different because now I knew it by heart.

I learned a lot in San Fernando, Pampanga but I will share the three most important learning– First, you have to be part of the change. The office where we stayed for four weeks became our home. San Fernando City in Pampanga is implementing R.A. 9003 (known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000). Since, we are Fernandinos at the moment and part of our internship is to inform and educate Fernandinos of proper waste segregation, we have to segregate our wastes, too. One has to practice what one preaches. So in buying our groceries, we use eco bags instead of plastics. We bring containers to markets wherein we place the meat products. It takes some time to get accustomed to such practices if you are not used to it. But if you think about it, it’s not really hard.

City of San Fernando, Pampanga logo

Three of MEF Staffs in Pampanga: left to right: Ate Jen, Tita Armen and Ate Maie

Picture outside the Staff House: left to right: Carlo, Jem, Hannah, Erica, Ate Maie, Ate Jen, Tita Armen, Bianca, Janelle, CJ, Monica

Second, involve others. In my 18 days of fieldwork in San Fernando, I learned that the call for a zero waste is not a single cry in the void but rather a chorus of voices. A household segregating waste is negligible but every household, in every barangay and in every city combined that segregate wastes creates an enormous ripple of effect as a whole. A big chunk of wastes generated comes from the households. If every households practice segregation, imagine how much waste will be reduced! I see this is a reason why part of our internship is to go from one house to another in different barangays. Fieldwork is not an easy task – walking under the scorching heat of summer knocking on doors, handing out flyers and explaining its contents to the people – but all this is paid off when you know that every additional house you inform means a minus in the trash formed.

Visiting the MRF of Lourdes Heights Subdivision

Barangay San Pedro's Street Sweepers who helped us in the Dry-run at Purok 6

Hannah giving an IEC at Villa Barosa 3 Hall

Bianca receiving wastes during a dry-run at Muslim community in Purok 4 Barangay San Pedro

Monica and Carlo driving a tri-bike during a dry-run

Third, who benefits? “We have to save Mother Earth!” that is why we have to take action, we have to segregate, reduce our wastes, plant trees, etc. but actually, in the process of saving Mother Earth, we are saving ourselves and succeeding generations too. Knowing that what you are doing now is your gift to yourself and to the generations to come, you won’t get tired of doing and sharing it to others. We only have one planet to live on and that is Mother Earth.