SM Cares, PLDT, Smart make e-waste recycling accessible to all

April 23, 2024
3 min read

You’re finally upgrading to that shiny new smartphone or sleek laptop you’ve been eyeing. But wait, what about your old gadgets? Are you just going to let them gather dust in a drawer or, even worse, end up in landfills?

To make e-waste disposal easier and more convenient, PLDT and Smart have teamed up with SM Cares to expand SM’s Electronic Waste Collection (EWC) Program.

Under this partnership, PLDT and Smart will be deploying e-waste collection drop boxes in SM Cyberzone and in strategic areas of all existing and upcoming SM Malls nationwide to encourage Filipinos to recycle their e-waste and contribute to the fight against climate change.

To reinforce the initiative’s sustainability messaging, SM, PLDT, and Smart unveiled new designs for the drop boxes that will be used to collect the e-waste. These bins are made from 8,400 pieces of used beverage cartons.

But what exactly counts as e-waste? Anything from old mobile phones and laptops to chargers and cords—among others—can be placed in these drop boxes. Collected e-waste will then be turned over to an accredited e-waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal facility for proper handling.

“This partnership with PLDT and Smart adds to our growing list of initiatives that promote a circular economy. This also adds meaning to the experience of our customers in our malls, enabling them to become part of building more sustainable communities, as well as in achieving the country’s targets in the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” said Joaquin L. San Agustin, Senior Vice President, Head – Marketing at SM Supermalls.

From left: PLDT Home Marketing National Key Accounts Partnership Head Anne Leonardo, PLDT and Smart Senior VP and Head of Sales and Development John Palanca, PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios, PLDT and Smart Senior VP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business Alex Caeg, SM Supermalls Senior Vice President and Head for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls VP for Corporate Compliance Group Engr. Liza Silerio, SM Supermalls VP for Sponsorship and Cyberzone Patrick Raymund Pacla

Launched in 2021, the Electronic Waste Collection (EWC) Program encourages tenant and customer participation in the responsible disposal of electronic waste or e-waste which is considered hazardous, while also promoting decluttering in households and bringing to light conscious consumerism.

Since 2021, a total of 11,600kg of e-waste has been collected through the program, diverted from ending up in landfills and causing harm to humans and the environment to the designated facilities where they are disposed of responsibly.