By Jeremy Williams
The UNEP granted its Champions of the Earth awards this week. Among the winners are the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and a business called Blue Circle that pays fishers to catch plastic off the coast of China. The one I want to mention is Josefina Belmonte, the mayor of Quezon City in the Philippines.
She won the award for policy leadership, as Quezon has several progressive measures in place to address plastic pollution. Of particular concern is the plague of discarded sachets that clog waterways. Refills are playing a part in replacing them, and since I’ve been writing about refills this week, it seemed like a good story to follow up on.
It’s also a good example of environmental action that serves those on low incomes. Sachets are popular because they allow people to buy necessary goods in small amounts, and they’re much more common in developing countries. Buying just the amount you need of shampoo or detergent helps people to manage their household budgets better. Refill points keep the flexibility to buy small, but do away with the waste. These refill points are due to be rolled out to an impressive 6,000 stores across the city next year.
Quezon has also unilaterally brought in bans on single use plastics in catering, has an initiative that pays people for bringing in their recycling, and is working to develop a circular economy. Beyond plastic, they aim to be net zero by 2050, and are investing in cycle networks, electric buses, and a doubling of parks and green spaces. Here’s a little video introduction, with more on the awards website.
First published in The Earthbound Report.