Less Plastic. Better Waste Management. Healthier Coasts.

From cleanups to evidence-based action

PBCAI’s Plastic Reduction Campaign goes beyond removing waste that has already reached beaches and coastal ecosystems.

In partnership with WWF-Palawan, PBCAI conducted Waste Analysis and Characterization Studies (WACS) in Taytay, Palawan to better understand how much waste communities generate, what kinds of waste are produced, and what interventions are needed at household and barangay levels.

The first WACS was conducted from February to March 2023 in the island barangays of Paly, Debangan, and Beton. The study examined household waste generation and composition and was accompanied by a one-day WACS training for barangay personnel and community participants. A total of 66 participants from the three barangays joined the training, with some later participating directly in the WACS field teams.

The work also reviewed existing local policies and solid-waste management arrangements. At the time, Taytay already had a 2018–2027 Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan, restrictions on plastic bags and Styrofoam, and anti-littering provisions. However, the island barangays had relatively limited barangay-level solid-waste policies and facilities, highlighting the need for locally appropriate systems and sustained community education.

What the communities were throwing away

The 2023 study covered 231 sample households across the three island barangays.

Waste composition differed considerably among communities. Biodegradable materials made up the largest share of household waste—about 77% in Debangan, 47% in Paly, and 80% in Beton. Plastic recyclables accounted for approximately 2% in Debangan, 10% in Paly, and 7% in Beton.

The study also quantified specific types of recyclable plastics and found that Paly generated considerably more recyclable plastic waste than Debangan and Beton.

These findings helped move the campaign from a general message of “reduce plastic” toward a more practical question:

What kinds of waste are communities actually generating, and what systems can realistically keep that waste out of the environment?

Building local capacity

WACS was also used as a learning process.

Before household waste collection began, community participants were oriented on waste segregation. Participating households received separate sacks for biodegradable, recyclable, residual, and special waste, together with information on proper segregation. Community and barangay personnel were involved in field collection, weighing, sorting, and recording.

This approach helped combine research with hands-on environmental education, enabling local participants to better understand both the amount of waste they generate and the importance of separating waste at source.

Expanding the study to Poblacion, Taytay

PBCAI later conducted another WACS in Barangay Poblacion, Taytay from December 9–14, 2024, covering both households and selected non-household establishments.

The study estimated that Barangay Poblacion generated approximately 5,083 kilograms of solid waste per day, with households accounting for about 96.4% of total waste generation. Approximately 55% was biodegradable, 21% recyclable, 21% residual, and 3% special waste.

The household interviews also revealed important behavioral and information gaps. While 73% of respondents reported basic segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, 61% still disposed of recyclables together with other non-biodegradable waste, and half of respondents said they were unaware of barangay or municipal solid-waste management projects. At the same time, respondents expressed willingness to participate in activities to reduce waste.

These results show why infrastructure alone is not enough. Effective waste reduction also requires information, household participation, proper segregation, accessible collection systems, and consistent local implementation.

What changed in the island barangays?

A project end-line WACS conducted in the three island barangays provided an opportunity to compare waste conditions with the 2023 baseline.

The end-line assessment recorded lower total waste quantities than in 2023:

• Debangan: approximately 40% lower
• Paly: approximately 62% lower
• Beton: approximately 48% lower

Recyclable plastic recorded during the assessment was also lower than in 2023—approximately 25% lower in Debangan, 76% lower in Paly, and 68% lower in Beton.

These results are encouraging, but PBCAI does not automatically attribute the reductions solely to project interventions. The end-line assessment itself notes that seasonal and economic conditions may have influenced the results.

That distinction is important and actually strengthens the credibility of the campaign page.

The challenge is not over

The end-line study found that residual waste remained the second-largest waste category, while formal waste collection reached only about 9% of generated waste, leaving a substantial amount potentially unmanaged.

This means that reducing plastic cannot depend only on individual behavior.

Communities also need:

• reliable waste collection;
• functioning Material Recovery Facilities;
• household segregation;
• markets or recovery systems for recyclable materials;
• stronger barangay and municipal implementation;
• reduction of problematic single-use materials; and
• continuous environmental education.

Why WACS matters

A Waste Analysis and Characterization Study may sound technical, but its purpose is very practical.

You cannot effectively reduce waste if you do not know what waste you are producing.

WACS provides communities and local governments with evidence they can use to:

• identify the largest waste streams;
• design segregation and collection systems;
• prioritize composting and recycling;
• plan facilities and budgets;
• develop or improve local ordinances;
• measure changes over time; and
• target plastic-reduction interventions where they are most needed.

For PBCAI, WACS connects science, community participation, and local governance.

Our Plastic Reduction Approach

Four simple steps:

Measure → Understand → Reduce → Prevent

Measure
Conduct WACS and community assessments.

Understand
Identify where waste comes from and how households manage it.

Reduce
Promote segregation, recycling, composting, reusable alternatives, and reduced dependence on unnecessary plastics.

Prevent
Strengthen local systems so waste does not end up in rivers, beaches, mangroves, and the sea.

From waste management to biodiversity conservation

PBCAI sees plastic reduction as part of biodiversity conservation.

The same communities that depend on healthy fisheries, reefs, mangroves, and coastlines are also on the front line of the waste problem. Keeping plastics and other wastes out of these ecosystems protects not only wildlife but also food security, livelihoods, public health, and the long-term resilience of coastal communities.

This also connects naturally to your Sea Turtle Conservation Campaign. Rather than presenting these as isolated PBCAI activities, the website can show how they reinforce each other:

Plastic Reduction → Cleaner Coastal Habitats → Safer Sea Turtle Nesting Areas → Healthier Marine Ecosystems.

Call to action

Know your waste. Reduce what you can. Keep the rest out of nature.

Segregate at home. Refuse unnecessary single-use plastics. Reuse whenever possible. Support community recycling and composting. Join local waste-reduction initiatives.

Because the best waste is the waste we never allow to reach Palawan’s forests, rivers, beaches, and seas.