The Trash Trap
Who: World Wildlife Fund for Nature
What: Improving port waste management
- Creating a Cleaner and Healthier Environment in Cagayan de Oro
Under the heat of the sun, Fernando Lucañas and his co-workers are hauling loads of solid waste from the Bitan-ag Creek in Barangay Lapasan into a garbage truck. Barangays are the smallest administrative divisions in the Philippines. Each city is composed of several barangays. In the creek Bitan-ag, the stench is sickening, and the sight of all sorts of garbage floating in the water is even more stomach-churning. Here you find more than just plastic waste; decomposing animals, spoiled food, and, at times, human waste. The creek then flows toward Macajalar Bay, which nestles one of the Philippines’ busiest ports: the Cagayan de Oro Port. The Macajalar Bay is also the home of several protected species, such as sea turtles.
The Cagayan de Oro Port in the City of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, in the Philippines, stands as a testament to the vibrant economic growth of the region. By facilitating the trade with the other parts of the Philippines, the port has been a key element for the development of the Misamis Oriental province.
However, with progress comes the challenge of increased waste generation, a consequence that has taken its toll on the marine ecosystem of Macajalar Bay. As the region thrives, the need for innovative environmental initiatives becomes ever more apparent. In response to this ecological concern, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), in partnership with the Grieg Group, launched the Trash Trap program under the ‘Clean Ports, Clean Oceans: Improving Port Waste Management in the Philippines’ project funded by the Grieg Foundation. The Trash Trap program aims to preserve and restore the waterways of Cagayan de Oro through sustainable waste management.
By installing nets made of recycled water bottles inside, these trash traps are strategically placed in Bitan-ag Creek, which is identified as one of the most heavily polluted creeks among the city's five major creeks. Bitan-ag Creek also serves as the primary drainage system for Cagayan de Oro. Through this innovative and sustainable approach, the program aims to intercept and filter waste, preventing it from reaching the ocean and causing further environmental harm.
The key players in the project are Fernando and his team of waste collectors, who are called the “Caretakers". With the help of the local barangay, garbage collection trucks were provided to make waste disposal convenient for the caretakers. The collected waste would then be segregated. Materials that can be recycled and sold will be separated from the rest, which will be taken to the landfill. However, proper areas for segregation, as well as limited market opportunities in the city for the recyclable plastic waste, are a challenge. That is why, WWF decided to provide support to the community to build a materials recovery facility (MRF).
Thanks to the MRF, the caretakers of Barangay. Lapasan will have a segregation and storage area for their recyclables to sell them more easily.
The effort proved to be making significant changes, as people are now seeing a cleaner Bitan-ag Creek compared to its previous situation. This can be evident most especially in the rainy season when the creek overflows together with what is inside it. Now, a cleaner creek would mean that the residents of Barangay Lapasan can enjoy lesser floods, and a cleaner and healthier environment in their community.
Fernando shared that even though their role in the program may be challenging, they envision a cleaner and clearer Bitan-ag Creek in the future.
"Despite having a hard time with the foul smell while cleaning, we sacrifice because we envision a clean ocean in the future. This project may serve as an example to other creeks that are flowing from Cagayan de Oro towards the ocean,” Fernando said.
Five years from now, they wish to see a waste-free Macajalar Bay where locals can once again enjoy swimming and marine animals thrive in a healthier habitat.
As WWF Philippines and the Grieg Foundation work hand in hand to provide essential support to caretakers like Fernando, their collective efforts symbolize a beacon of hope for the future. Through their combined efforts and unwavering commitment, they aim to create a ripple effect of positive change, inspiring similar initiatives worldwide and fostering a future where cleaner ports and healthier oceans become a reality.
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