It is not “out of sight, out of mind”; landfills are not just eyesores in remote areas, but they also pose a significant health risk to the communities around them and emit a substantial amount of greenhouse gases from decaying food waste.
The RDC, or Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable bins at
SM Supermalls, are not only for show but serve as the start of the journey to
achieve a net-zero landfill and beyond.
The SM Waste-Free Future initiative endeavors to reduce waste generation and increase the rate of diversion. |
For disposable, non-recyclable waste, SM Prime formed a
joint venture with the Japanese environmental solutions company GUUN to
establish SM GUUN Environmental Company, Inc. (SGECI). This partnership
enhances its waste-to-fuel factory to convert non-recyclable waste, like
single-use plastics, non-recyclable paper, and used rags, into cement fuel
called “fluff fuel” to reduce coal usage. The “fluff fuel” produced is then
used by eco-conscious cement companies like APO Cement, Holcim, and Taiheiyo
Cement in a practice they call “co-processing,” where the ash from the fuel is
also used as a cement ingredient, making it an integral part of the waste
reduction ecosystem.
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SM has recycled 130,250kg of its
internal non-essential documents through its bulk paper recycling program. |
SM’s environmental programs, such as the
monthly Trash to Cash recycling market, continue to support communities towards
sustainable living. |
In 2024, SM GUUN enabled the conversion
of 6,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste into fuel for cement companies. |
SM GUUN's Cebu plant is capable of processing 50-70 tons of waste daily. |
In 2024, SM GUUN Environmental Company converted over 6,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste into “fluff fuel,” avoiding the annual landfill burden for 12,000 households. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently visited the facility and recognized its significance to various stakeholders, particularly in the reduction of their carbon footprints and the efficient management of solid waste.
For compostable waste, SM GUUN is experimenting with a
Singaporean system for its malls and hawker centers that transforms compostable
food residues into landscape soil, achieving over 70% volume reduction within
48 hours. This helps create new soil for gardens, parks, and golf courses,
thereby reducing the burden on landfills and contributing to soil health and
urban greenery.
SM has other customer-facing programs on solid waste
management, like the Plastic Waste Collection program, E-Waste Collection, as
well as awareness campaigns for clean water bodies and regular estero and coastal cleanup activities.
These programs are also done to support the government in promoting responsible
solid waste management through RA 9004, RA 11898, and similar laws.
With solutions identified, the journey towards SM’s
#SMWasteFreeFuture becomes more realistic. It needs the help of everyone--from
the proper way we “Bin it Right” to the further development of waste solutions
to create an ecosystem of recovery and consumption where the word “waste” can
be a thing of the past. Let’s do our part for the journey to a “waste-free
future.”
To learn more about SM’s solid waste management initiatives, visit https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares/events/environmental-programs-on-solid-waste-management.
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