The Pinoy bayanihan spirit is alive with relief drives for typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng victims sprouting everywhere, but what happens to all the plastic packaging that piles up after the relief goods have been packed and distributed? SPOT.ph asked around for tips on how to stay green while helping.

REDUCE the use of plastic as much as possible:

- Use canvas bags, pillowcases and blankets instead of plastic bags. Mother Earth Bags donated about a thousand canvas bags to relief centers White Space, Blue Leaf, and organization Moms 4 Moms. "It's the biggest eco bag there is," says co-owner Kat Gomez-Limchoc. Host Bianca Gonzalez tweeted that reusable pillowcases and blankets tied at the ends can also hold relief goods.

- Use refillable gallons and paper cups instead of plastic bottles. Refillable gallons contain more water and paper cups are more environmentally friendly than plastic bottles, as pointed out in former Binibining Pilipinas Miriam Quiambao's compilation of green ideas for Ondoy relief.

REUSE whatever can be reused:

- Donate reusable eating utensils, also from Miriam Quiambao's list. It's more expensive but cheaper and greener in the long run since people won't have to throw out plastic utensil after utensil.

- Reuse plastic bags, cartons and clothes. "We used the leftover cartons as props and containers, while the plastic bags were reused to repack relief goods," says Ruth Miguel who volunteered at the Eat Bulaga relief operations. Donated clothes that can no longer be used became rags at the Greenhills Christian Fellowship Ortigas Centre, says volunteer Dan Ramos.