The Quezon City Environment Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) has produced and distributed the waste management guide in time for the celebration of Earth Day in Quezon City today.

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has instructed the EPWMD to disseminate more information on the waste management projects.

EPWMD head Frederika Rentoy said the guide will be very valuable information material that will provide tips on where and how to sell waste materials at higher prices, what types of recyclables are being bought and where and when to sell them.

The EPWD will also distribute the waste management guide to households, business establishments, industries, schools and other institutions.

The SM Supermalls simultaneously hold their recycling market fairs every first Saturday of the month while the Trinoma stages its similar event every fourth Friday.

Four EPWMD personnel and six Solid Waste and Environment Education Program (SWEEP) are assigned to every activity of this kind.

Through the EPWMD, the Quezon City government has forged partnership with shopping malls SM Fairview, SM North Edsa, SM Sta. Mesa, the Ayala Trinoma, the Linis Ganda Cooperative, and several Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) accredited recyclers to popularize the once-a-month recycling projects.

The big mall have opened their parking areas as venues for these events which are also supported by the Ayala Foundation, the Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE) and the DENR.

The objectives of these activities are to promote recycling as a way of life, provide a venue for promoting recycling of traditional and non-traditional waste and mitigate the improper disposal of toxic and hazardous substances.

EPWMD taps the Linis Ganda Cooperative for the buying of traditional waste materials at the monthly markets. But for SM Fairview and SM Sta. Mesa, the EPWMD provides only recyclers for waste paper.

Classified as traditional waste are paper, plastic, metal and bottles while those considered as nontraditional are electronic junks, lead acid batteries, juice packs, ink and toner cartridges, and used oil.