Why throw your garbage away, when they can be still be reused and recycled. The recycling bug has indeed hit GMA, Cavite. With the mantra “May Grasya sa Basura” the Ecosavers Program in the 5 schools in GMA, Cavite seek to educate their students on the importance of proper waste management through the practice of segregation. The Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP) with the support of the Coca-Cola Foundation has made it possible to plan and organize waste recovery and recycling programs in the 5 participating schools . These school are now implementing the Grasya sa Basura Ecosavers Program.

After the February 15, 2010 official launching of the Ecosavers Program last school year, each of the participating school have re-launched their programs to mark the beginning of the school year. The month of June has been a busy month for the Ecosavers member schools. In a span of 3 weeks, from June 21, 2010 to July 5, 2010, 4 schools in GMA, Cavite have launched their Ecosaver program. San Gabriel 1 Elementary School held its launching on June 21, 2010, which was followed by General Mariano Alvarez Technical High School which launched their program on June 28, 2010. A week later, on July 5, 2010, San Gabriel 2 Elementary School and the Holy Family Academy also launched their respective Grasya sa Basura Ecosavers Program.

The pioneers of the Ecosavers Program , namely: the Pasig City Green Hearts Foundation, the Marikina City Ecosavers Program and the Cav ite Institute’s Wishcraft Program graced the launching. These organizations shared their experiences in their respective solid waste management programs in schools. The program launching successfully informed the students, parents, faculty and all the stakeholders of the significance of the program and the mechanics of the Grasya sa Basura Program.

The Grasya sa Basura Ecosavers Program is an innovative and practical approach that encourages segregation and recovery of recyclables by the students and their families. The program also help the schools and local community in reinforcing and consolidating their solid waste management efforts. The students also benefit from the program by exchanging recyclables they collected for cash or school supplies.

The program also expects to help create ties with the schools and local junkshop operators to help give them more economic opportunities. This partnership also complements the cleaning and greening efforts of the municipality. The program can help reduce garbage collection costs due to the expected reduction in household waste that will thrown away due to recycling and collection of junkshop operators.