Saving the Earth One Bottle at a Time

One of the issues that I really feel strongly about is the plastic pollution in the Philippines. Our country is the 3rd largest contributor of plastic waste in the world and has among the highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia.

Whenever I see photos of animals suffering or dying because of what we are doing to the environment, my heart breaks. According to Nature Scientific Reports, a turtle has a 22% chance of dying if it eats 1 piece of plastic and the more plastic it eats, the higher the chance that it will die, and we’re just talking about turtles here.

Can you feel me now? Waaaaahh..! 

Yes, I know that this blog is intended for food and travel and I was really hesitant to write about it for fear that it won’t match my blog’s readership (Naks! ) But the more I thought about it, the more that it made sense. There was never an instance where I didn’t use plastic whenever I buy or prepare food.

My heart was breaking but I felt powerless because I couldn't stop myself from using plastic. Every time I threw away plastic waste, I felt miserable. Just imagine how happy I was when I finally found the solution, and that solution came from my friend Z. 

The solution is converting our plastic trash to “ecobricks” and donating them to The Plastic Solution or TPS drop-off partners. Robinsons Easymart also partnered with TPS in collecting these ecobricks. The good news is, Robinsons Easymart will give you free glass tumblers or metal straws in exchange of these ecobricks. You can also find other drop off locations below.

So, what is an ecobrick?

An ecobrick is a plastic bottle filled with non biodegradable materials like bottle label, packaging, bags, straws, plastic utensils, containers, old pens, old lip glosses, and foil, even Styrofoam, rubber and tattered cloth. Ecobricks will become simple alternative fillers (hollow blocks) in constructing walls and fences for classrooms, houses, benches etc.

How can we make an ecobrick? 

1. Collect your plastic waste like bottle label, packaging, bags, straws, utensils, containers, old pens, old lip glosses, and foil, even Styrofoam, rubber and tattered cloth. If the items are too big you can cut them into small pieces. 

2. Clean them. Ecobricks are made from clean and dry plastic. If there is any food, oil or dirt on your plastic, be sure to wash then dry. Dirty plastic inside an ecobrick will lead to microbiological growth and methane forming inside your ecobrick. 

3. Choose your bottle. TPS accepts 500ml to 2L bottles. 

4. Stuff your bottles with your plastic waste. Use a stick to pack the contents tightly by alternating soft and hard plastic. Voila! You now have an ecobrick.

5. Lastly, spread the word and get your school, workplace, neighborhood and your home involved. 

Where can I drop it off?

You can visit THIS LINK for TPS’ updated drop-off points. 

You may also bring your eco bricks here: 

-Makati: Lokal Hostel 5023 P. Burgos Street, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati 

-Makati: Z Hostel 5660 Don Pedro Street, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City 

-Makati: MNL Hostel B. Valdez Street, Makati 

-Quezon City: ADMU MVP 307 AESS Org Room, Ateneo de Manila University 

Point Person: Camille Rodriquez 

-Quezon City: Beatnik Inc Room 208 Llanar Building, 77 Xavierville Quezon City 

-Quezon City: Mad Kahuna 51 Cubao Expo, General Romulo Ave. Araneta Center Cubao, Quezon City Mondays to Saturdays: 1 PM-9 PM Sundays: 12 NN – 8 PM 

-Quezon City: PETA Theater 5 Sunnyside Dr, New Manila, Quezon City 

Point Person: Anj 

-Quezon City: UP Diliman Haring Ibon Tambayan, 

AS Basement 

Point Person: Jim Bagano 4th Flr 

West Wing of Melchor Hall

Point Person: Klarysse Domingo 

-Quezon City: Tees and Prints Units 8 - 10 Quedsa Plaza Bldg. Quezon Ave Corner EDSA, Quezon City 02-4123714; 0917-5048337 Monday – Sunday: 9 AM - 7 PM 

-Luzon: All Circle Hostel Locations (Baler, La Union, Zambales)