Got Empty Sachets? You Can Drop Them Off at These Smart Bins for Upcycling

(SPOT.ph) Did you know that the average life span of plastic is longer than that of a human? Single-use plastics have unfortunately become a staple in many Filipino households, but there's actually a way to give some of that plastic waste a second life.

Nestlé Philippines, Robinsons Supermarket, and Restore Solutions PH have teamed up to address plastic pollution by rolling out 10 Smart Eco-Collection Bins (SEB) across Metro Manila. Think of them as reverse vending machines that collect and upcycle plastic sachets.

Plastic waste collected through the machines will be transformed into Restore Boards, which are used to construct tables and chairs.

Also read: How to Embrace the Eco-Friendly Lifestyle in a Sachet Economy

Follow the guidelines recommended by Restore Solutions PH. Before depositing your plastic sachets, make sure they are clean and dry, as wet and sticky sachets can cause system jamming and electrical problems.

The machine also comes with a suggested size chart of 6.5 x 6.5 inches for what can be inserted to ensure the SEBs function smoothly.

It’s important to insert sachets one by one to prevent machine disruptions. Don't worry if you encounter the conveyor belt halting for 20 seconds. Restore Solutions PH said this is part of the system’s normal operation. Just wait for the machine to resume before continuing to deposit your sachets—patience is a virtue!

Check out your nearest SEB location in Metro Manila:

• Robinsons Supermarket Galleria, Quezon City (LG, near Customer Service Counter)

• Robinsons Supermarket Townville Regalado, Quezon City (near Parking entrance, beside the Milk & Baby Needs Section)

• Robinsons Supermarket Ermita, City of Manila (GF, near Supermarket Counter 20 and 21)

• Robinsons Supermarket Metro East, City of Pasig (LG, at the supermarket entrance)

• Lucky Chinatown Mall, City of Manila (GF, near Starbucks)

• Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, City of Taguig (GF, near Kenny Rogers Roasters)

• Eastwood City Mall, Quezon City (GF, near Mary Grace Restaurant)

• Uptown Bonifacio Mall, City of Taguig (Basement Near Parking Tunnel)

• San Lorenzo Place Mall, Makati City (GF, near escalator)

According to Restore Solutions PH, more locations are expected to launch soon.

Besides helping the environment, upcycling sachets can also give you “Ecobin points” that you can use to redeem “Ecobin rewards,” which you can access and manage through a website called Ecobin Portal. There, you can track your own sustainability efforts.

You can also use these points to get recycled keychains, coasters, trinkets, and furniture from Re-Store, which you can claim at 11 FTC Enterprises Inc. in Quezon City.

All you have to do is create your own account and scan your QR code every time you deposit your plastic sachets into the SEBs.

No internet? No problem. You can also deposit your plastic waste even in “offline mode.” The machine will automatically credit your points as soon as the connection is stable. You will also receive a printed receipt and voucher code for manual redemption.

If you’re just here to try the machine out, there's also a “Guest Mode” for users who just want to contribute to the cause without redeeming points. Don't worry if you change your mind later on, as each transaction will print out a guest voucher with the points that can be claimed upon registration for a new account.

Also read: 10 Places Where You Can Drop Off Your Plastic Waste