Trash to cash for a cause Motolite, PBSP mark 10th year of recycling program

Motolite-PBSP Balik Baterya program honors PLDT, which donated P48 million worth of used lead-acid batteries that helped construct classrooms for public schools.
contributed photo

Imagine if 4,000 tons of used lead acid batteries (ULABs) were disposed indiscriminately in our waterways over the last 10 years. The lead content in these batteries would have leaked into our rivers and poisoned animals. Worse, it may have caused health injuries to people who have ingested it.

The World Health Organization points to lead as the cause of 143,000 deaths each year in developing regions.

Fortunately, the proper recycling of these extremely hazardous wastes under the Balik Baterya Program of the Oriental & Motolite Marketing Corporation (OMMC) and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) has made the country a little safer and also contributed significant benefits to the education, environment and health sectors.

A deeper purpose

Over the last 10 years, some P99.8 million worth of proceeds have been raised from 4,000 tons of ULABs that were collected from 180 donor companies. These were used for the donation of 4,596 textbooks and storybooks to public schools, improvement of reading skills of 2,607 children,

provision of 714 schools desks, training of 142 teachers on remedial reading, assistance to 117 public schools, establishment of 100 learning resource centers, construction and repair of 34 classrooms as well as toilet facilities in schools.

In environment, 25 hectares were planted with trees while 1,508 households benefited from road and drainage improvement works. In health, 1,828 individuals were oriented on tuberculosis while 127 TB educators were trained.

Launched in 2006, the Balik Baterya Program involves the collection of ULABs for proper recycling (including the recovery of reusable components for the production of new automotive and industrial batteries).

To encourage more companies to donate batteries, Motolite buys the ULABs at a premium value. The proceeds are then used to fund various projects on education through the LEAP (Learning Enhancement Assistance Package) being implemented by PBSP. This year, the program expanded by adopting water-related initiatives and activities supporting senior high school program.

Reaping multiple benefits

Its donors from across the country, including top three donors PLDT, Smart Communications and Meralco, were feted with plaques of appreciation for their significant contributions and commitment to the cause.

PLDT joined the program in 2007 and has become the top donor with P48 million raised from more than two million kilos of batteries donated. It is also the first corporate donor that used its proceeds for building classrooms all over the country. So far, it has repaired and built 29 classrooms, turned over 54 learning resource centers, provided two computer laboratories, and rehabilitated walkways and drainages benefiting almost 1,000 households out of its ULAB donations.

Jessie Sarmiento, Smart Communications’ Assistant Vice President for the Corporate Services Group, lauded the program, saying that it has really given so much value for the large sums of money spent on these batteries. Being the second top donor, Smart was able to churn out a total of P27 million worth of proceeds from their donation of 1.15 million kilos of ULABs.

Balik Baterya’s third top donor, Meralco has always been into 5S and recycles its junk from both hardware and hazardous materials. Before, the batteries from its vehicles and stations follow the usual disposal process which is through garbage collection. But since they joined the Balik Baterya Program in 2015, Meralco has since become a staunch supporter of the program, donating 71,000 kilos of batteries from their vehicles, stations and radio towers in Bulacan, Quezon and Batangas worth P2 million.

In fact, the success of the program has inspired them to start their own recycling project. /PR