The concentration of population in any locality results in mass demand and consumption of resources coupled with the enormous generation of solid and liquid wastes. This situation inevitably posed a major challenge to the municipality of Bustos, Bulacan as the local government found itself ill-prepared to deal with the effects of a fast-growing population. The existing waste disposal system being used was not enough to manage the increasing amount of garbage the municipality generates daily.

      Being a medical doctor by profession, the local chief executive saw the ill effects of an unsanitary environment to the health of the residents. Mayor Pablito Mendoza understood that the first step in solving this problem would be to educate his constituents on the importance of health, environment, and nutrition. To do this, the local Health Board was mobilized to conduct a municipality-wide information drive through a series of activities such as community assemblies, zonal dialogues, household teachings, as well as cleanliness campaigns in public and private schools. Residents were taught on how to classify their wastes and how these can be turned into productive and useful products through recycling.

      Training sessions on waste management and recycling were conducted by health workers in each of the municipality’s 14 barangays. Each barangay was then divided into “purok” or clusters. Initially, a pilot barangay was chosen as a test project. It was not long before 13 health stations were established and 260 health workers and volunteers were deputized to reinforce the implementation of the program’s activities. Cluster activities included: 1)construction of compost pits from tires; 2) construction of storage bins for garbage which are classified into paper, plastic bottles, Styrofoam and metals; 3) maintenance of cleanliness in yards and the streets; 4) planting vegetables, trees, and flowers in the garden; 5) motivating other residents to join the movement.

      Recovery and recycling of wastes became an alternative source of income to the community. The income derived from the sale of recycled garbage and organic fertilizer was divided among the cluster members. The slogan “May pera sa basura” (“There’s money in waste”) became a reality. Competitions such as Search for Princess of Nutrition using tree bearing seedlings as ballots, Huwarang Bakuran, Huwarang Barangay, and Clean, Green and Colorful Barangay also continue to excite and inspire the people of Bustos to always work on keeping their surroundings clean.

      The work of the municipal government did not stop there. After the educational campaign, training sessions, and town-wide implementation, Mayor Mendoza’s team also carried out the monitoring, evaluation, and recognition of the program. The zero-waste management program of Bustos, Bulacan became a tremendous success, largely owing to the favorable response of the community supportive of environmental cleanliness, protection and preservation. Launched in 1993, it was the first zero waste management program in the entire province of Bulacan.