The city government partnered with two companies in promoting for the recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles by turning them into chairs for public schools in the city.
On August 2, the Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI), the Winder Recycling Company amd city government launched the project in time for the opening of the 34thKadayawan Festival celebration.
“We are excited to be part of the annual Kadayawan Festival—not only through celebrating life, health, and prosperity, but also by enriching the festivities through our activities geared toward environmental conservation,” said CCBPI Corporate and Regulatory Affairs DirectorJuan Lorenzo Tañada.
The move is relative to the initiative of the softdrink company, the World Without Waste, at the Magsaysay Park.
The World Without Waste program features the brand’s iconic bottle collection bin; a bench made from 1,000 recycled PET bottles and a collection bin made from 600 plastic PET bottles from Winder Recycling Company.
Coke is also mulling to also install the World Without Waste features in People’s Park, Rizal Park, Botanical Garden, and Sta. Ana Wharf.
“Coke partnered with the city government. They came here and they wanted to put something for the parks. They even came to the parks board,” said City Administrator Zuleika Lopez.
“We see the warm welcome of our presence at Kadayawan as an opportunity to further promote a cleaner and greener way of living, most especially during a celebration so important to Davaoeños,” said Tañada.
“We hope that this will be the start of a long-term partnership with the Davao City government, which we recognize as a partner in ensuring the welfare of the environment,” he added.
Lopez replied the city government is committed to help in the collection of the plastics because the recycling company, Winder, “will return it to us as plastic chairs.”
“We wanted to build a lot because we want it for our child-minding center,” Lopez said. “But more than that, we want to get everybody involved to know that their plastic garbage does not end in the bins, there is really something good that can actually come out on it.”
Coke also launched the #betterbottlecapchallenge that will run from August 21 to 25.
The initiative is to further encourage the active participation of local residents and tourists, and to translate on-the-ground awareness onto social media where contributors will be capturing, through photographs and video, the unique and creative ways in which they’ve deposited their used plastic PET bottles in designated Coca-Cola collection bins.
They will have to post such on their social media accounts with the hashtag.
Those who complete the challenge will receive a Coca-Cola beverage which they can personalize with their names.
