San Fernando, the Philippine city that has gone from swimming in the garbage to an example of recycling

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Credit: Mother Earth Foundation Philippines

Enter 2012 and 2018, the city went from 12% to 80% the amount of waste that is convert to compost or sell to recycle. "We are not just fighting waste. We fight against the mentality and the culture", said the spokeswoman of the Office of the Environment and Natural Resources of the city, Regina Rodríguez.

The milestone becomes more relevant considering that the Philippines, one of the most polluted countries in the oceans, has produced more than 14 tons of waste in 2016of which only 28% were recycled.

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Credit: Mother Earth Foundation Philippines

But in 2012, the San Fernando government joined forces with the Madre Tierra Foundation (MEF) to develop a "zero waste" strategy in the city.

Thus, six years later, it is considered one of the world's leading cities for waste treatment. "There are essential aspects, the first is the political will"said the president of Mother Earth, Froilan Grate. Then he added that "It's also essential to involve neighbors, you have to empower people to participate.".

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Credit: Mother Earth Foundation Philippines

"The initial investment of San Fernando was about 2 million Philippine pesos (nearly $ 38,000). savings which has just diverted the waste from the landfill sites is about 50 million pesos a yearhe discussed.

Over time, neighborhoods and schools have created their own recycling stations. Now all houses comply with the separation rules in three types: biodegradable, recyclable and residual.