Apo Island becomes first Philippine island to go ‘zero waste’

Apo Island, located in the Negros Oriental province of the Philippines, was recognized as the first island barangay in the Philippines to go ‘zero waste’ as it marked one year of committing to a Zero Waste system and practices. This was achieved through War on Waste (WOW) Negros Oriental which is part of the Zero Waste Cities Project (ZWCP) by GAIA Asia Pacific along with collaborators from India, Indonesia, and the Philippines with fuding from the Plastic Solutions Fund. The island is a tourist destination, specifically a famous spot for scuba diving, but they have had some difficulty with managing waste. According to Down To Earth, the waste management systems that were introduced included “proper waste segregation at source, door-to-door segregated waste collection system, and use of composting methods” among other techniques. Additionally, this year WOW aims to establish a Zero Waste store along with Zero Waste Elementary and High Schools. 

This was exciting news to hear for sustainability efforts and better waste management especially with international efforts in regards to the climate change crisis. I remember a few years ago, my own hometown, Dumaguete City, in the same province, instituted a ban against using plastic bags at the wet markets, which was also a step forward with sustainability. Seeing this movement towards sustainability in the province where I grew up is inspiring and hopeful to see this movement grow even further outside of the province and nationwide. Apo Island is also a marine sanctuary, so having effective waste management is integral for maintaining healthy marine life and keeping the waters and beaches clean.