A two-day training on upcycling and recycling was held last April 18 and 19, 2024 at Baccuit Norte, Bauang La Union. Participants were representatives from the 33 coastal barangays from Bauang, City of San Fernando and San Juan, La Union.
Two trainers were invited to showcase the process of making rugs, potholders, wallets, and decorations. According to Renalie Casugay, one of the trainers, she is able to augment their family needs by selling her upcycled crafts.
Upcycling not only helps reduce waste, but also allows the community to showcase their creativity by transforming old clothes and plastic wrappers into valuable items, leading to economic opportunities.
A representative from Payocpoc Sur, one of the model barangays of recycling and solid waste management in Bauang, shared that โMalaking bagay po yung aming natututunan sa training na ito na ituturo po namin sa aming kabarangayan. Naging livelihood na po namin itong pagrerecyle at ito po yung bago na isusunod po namin" (The training has provided us with significant learning that we will share with our community. Recycling has been a source of income for us, and we will incorporate this into our livelihood.)
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The Upcycling and Recycling Training is an activity under the Plastic Recovery and Recycling for Clean Coasts (or Clean Coasts Project).
The Plastic Recovery and Recycling for Clean Coasts (or Clean Coasts Project) was a two-year project funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation Inc. The project has a 6-month extension that is currently implemented by the JVOFI. The project was implemented in the coastal barangays of Bauang, San Juan, and San Fernando in La Union. It aimed to reduce plastic pollution in these barangays through the collective participation of community stakeholders in the sustainable management of plastic waste.
