Malabon residents earn cash from trash

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May 29, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in Malabon earned extra cash yesterday after exchanging recyclable plastic bottles and other waste during a city-led recycling collection drive.

The activity, dubbed “Sa plastic na basura, may kita ka!” was conducted by the city’s Environmental and Natural Resources Office in partnership with Sentinel Plastic Corp.

Residents brought sacks of used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, bottle caps, rings and labels to the collection site in exchange for cash.

Clear PET bottles were bought for P21 per kilo, while blue and green PET bottles fetched P10 per kilo.

Bottle caps and rings were purchased at P20 per kilo while bottle labels were valued at P7.50 a kilo.

City officials said the initiative aims to reduce plastic waste while encouraging recycling and environmental sustainability.

The program also seeks to promote proper waste segregation and show residents that discarded plastics still have economic value instead of ending up in waterways and landfills.