The Eco-Ambassadors Organization (EAO), in partnership with the Baliwag City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), has officially re-launched the Palit-Basura Program at St. Mary’s College of Baliuag, Inc. for the school year 2024-2025.

This program, which was initially introduced before the pandemic, is part of the EAO's ongoing initiatives to promote sustainable waste management practices and maintain campus cleanliness. The program includes the use of shoot-it bins and Palit-Basura bins in every classroom, encouraging students and faculty staff to segregate their waste properly.

A study by the World Bank Group (2021) reveals that the Philippines is the third-largest contributor to plastic waste globally, accounting for an estimated 0.75 million metric tons of ocean plastic annually. The Philippines' economy, designed to meet the high demand for plastic, is infamous for its dump sites that cause plastic spills into the ocean.

The Palit-Basura Program has now been revived to further strengthen the commitment to environmental awareness and responsible waste disposal on a local scale.

As of December 13, the EAO has successfully collected four black bags of plastic bottles and three black bags of plastic wrappers. These items will be exchanged for school supplies and other reusable materials, contributing to both environmental sustainability and the campus's resource needs.

On a daily basis, the Eco-Ambassadors fulfill their responsibilities—collecting waste from classrooms then transporting it to the EAO stockroom located on the 3rd floor of the Saint Joseph Building. There, the waste is stored before being processed and exchanged.

Achieving proper solid waste management is not merely a task for the Eco-Ambassadors, but a mission for everyone to attain a safe and healthy environment. Working collectively not only reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills and oceans, but it also plays a crucial role in public health and safety. 

The EAO encourages all Ignacian Marians and personnel of the school community to actively participate and continue making a positive impact on the environment.