OUR WASTE recycling attempts have failed because there are not enough financial incentives for residential and industrial recyclers. It’s as simple as “no money no honey”.
There are no two ways around it, because not unless there is money to be made, individuals and companies will not recycle. Although it might appear to be negative thinking on my part, that is the simple truth about human nature.
At the residential level, I believe that there is still a possibility of creating a market for recyclables, both for biodegradables and non-biodegradables. This is as simple as buying and selling. Individuals will collect and segregate recyclables, if there is someone who will buy these at a good price.
At the industrial level, I also believe that there is also a possibility of creating a market for recycled finished products, such as construction materials and supplies. Not only can businessmen make money by buying and selling these products, but they can also make money through carbon credits.
Government agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development could be the ready market for these construction materials.
Even private developers could be required to buy these materials, but with carbon credits and tax rebates of course. There could be other ideas, but let’s start with this.
COOPERATIVE DEMOCRACY
According to the Revised Cooperative Code of the Philippines (Republic Act 9520), every member of a cooperative can cast one vote, regardless of how many shares he owns. Conversely, even those who have many shares could also cast only one vote.
This rule of “one man, one vote” ensures that democracy continues to be practiced in the cooperative movement. That democratic rule also ensures that every member of a cooperative has an opportunity to make money by way of the dividends that he could receive, again even if he only has one share.
Not only that, he or she also has the opportunity to save money, because coop goods are generally cheaper because of some tax exemptions. Unlike the for-profit supermarkets and groceries, members of cooperatives could buy goods from their own stores, and not only that, but they could also have a say about what to buy and sell, and even what they want to produce on their own in their own farms. This empowers them to become part of their own “prosumer” economy, meaning that they could produce what they consume.
Members could also choose to buy only goods that are locally produced, thus also contributing to the growth of “hyperlocal” economies. This new trend enables us to cut our carbon footprint by buying only goods that are not imported./PN
