How SM Moves From Bin it Right to #SMWasteFreeFuture reduces the impact on landfills

It is not “out of sight, out of mind”; landfills are not only unsightly places in isolated locations; they also provide a serious health danger to the local population and release a lot of greenhouse gases due to the decomposition of food waste.

The SM Supermalls’ Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable (RDC) containers are not merely decorative; they mark the beginning of the path to a landfill that is net-zero and beyond.

For recyclable waste, SM has initiatives like the “Trash to Cash” recycling market, which successfully gathers over 1 million kilograms annually of plastic, paper, and other materials for reuse or recycling. The program aims to reduce solid waste pollution and promote a circular economy within communities. SM understands the importance of segregating at the source, and the company does this through partnerships with various companies, such as Trust International Paper Corporation for internal bulk paper recycling. The program has avoided landfill waste equivalent to the annual waste of more than 3,000 households while ensuring recyclables are properly processed.

For disposable, non-recyclable waste, SM Prime formed a joint venture with the Japanese environmental solutions company GUUN to establish SM GUUN Environmental Company, Inc. (SGECI). This partnership enhances its waste-to-fuel factory to convert non-recyclable waste, like single-use plastics, non-recyclable paper, and used rags, into cement fuel called “fluff fuel” to reduce coal usage. The “fluff fuel” produced is then used by eco-conscious cement companies like APO Cement, Holcim, and Taiheiyo Cement in a practice they call “co-processing,” where the ash from the fuel is also used as a cement ingredient, making it an integral part of the waste reduction ecosystem.

In 2024, SM GUUN Environmental Company converted over 6,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste into “fluff fuel,” avoiding the annual landfill burden for 12,000 households. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently visited the facility and recognized its significance to various stakeholders, particularly in the reduction of their carbon footprints and the efficient management of solid waste.

For compostable waste, SM GUUN is experimenting with a Singaporean system for its malls and hawker centers that transforms compostable food residues into landscape soil, achieving over 70% volume reduction within 48 hours. This helps create new soil for gardens, parks, and golf courses, thereby reducing the burden on landfills and contributing to soil health and urban greenery.

Other customer-facing solid waste management services offered by SM include the Plastic Waste Collection program, E-Waste Collection, clean water body awareness campaigns, and frequent cleanups of the coast and estero. Through RA 9004, RA 11898, and other similar laws, these activities are also carried out to assist the government in promoting appropriate solid waste management.

The path to SM’s #SMWasteFreeFuture becomes more feasible after solutions have been found. To establish an ecology of recovery and consumption where the term “waste” can become obsolete, we need everyone’s assistance, from properly “bin it right” to further developing waste solutions. Let’s contribute to the “waste-free future” movement.

Visit https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares/events/environmental-programs-on-solid-waste-management to find out more about SM’s solid waste management activities.