QCITIZENS can now pay their electricity and other bills using accumulated points from trading recyclable and single use plastics, following the expansion of the Quezon City government’s waste trading program, Trash to Cashback.
‘Trash to Cashback’ is the city’s initiative, in partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies (BEST), Inc. that allows QCitizens to trade plastic, metal, and paper wastes into ‘Environmental Points’ (EPs) which in turn can be exchanged for basic commodities such as rice, eggs and vegetables.
On Monday, Mayor Joy Belmonte signed an agreement with BEEPXTRA PHILIPPINES and CIS BAYAD CENTER INC. to expand the waste trading program to enable residents to pay their bills using their Environmental Points.
“Starting Dec 22, QC residents can now use their environmental points as Bayad App credits that can be redeemed for utility bills payment. Aside from getting points or credits for bills payment, we are also able to promote the importance of recycling and proper waste segregation,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
There will be three participating Bayad Centers for the 90-day pilot launch of the program, particularly the branches in Ever Commonwealth, Sauyo, and Gulod.
A QCitizen who wants to redeem her/his Environmental Points in payment for utility bills is required to create a Bayad App account. She/he will be allowed to redeem a minimum of 200 Environmental Points (EP) in payment for utility bills, where one EP is equivalent to one peso.
To collect Environmental Points, residents can bring their recyclables and single use plastics in designated My Basurero Eco-Community (MBE-C) kiosks across the city. Metal, paper and boxes, PET bottles, and other single-use plastics (SUP) such as shampoo sachets, coffee packs, and even online shopping plastic packages will be accepted in the drop-off points.
As a reminder, Andrea Villaroman, Head of the Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, advised QCitizens to clean and dry their recyclables before bringing these to the drop-off sites.
“Recyclables, aside from being segregated, should also be cleaned and dried. Labels like in PET bottles should also be removed to earn more environmental points,” Villaroman explained.
Further, through the city’s agreement with Meralco and BEST, MBE-C drop-off sites will also be established in Meralco Business Centers located at Kamuning, Commonwealth, and Novaliches.
The program is also part of the city’s campaign to reduce plastic waste, intensify segregation and introduce to the residents the concept of incentivized recycling and a circular economy for a more sustainable lifestyle.
For more information on what you can trade, visit: https://www.facebook.com/qc.epwmd/posts/248874470673791
Designated MBE-C kiosks:
https://www.facebook.com/qc.epwmd/posts/235287348699170
For inquiries and concerns about the program, you can reach Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department thru 8988-4242 local 8348 and ClimateChange@quezoncity.gov.ph.
Photo courtesy Ecobusiness.com
