From Bin it Right to #SMWasteFreeFuture: How SM minimizes landfill impact

SM GUUN's Cebu plant is capable of processing 50-70 tons of waste daily.

It is not "out of sight, out of mind"; landfills are not only eyesores in distant regions, but they also pose a serious health danger to the populations that surround them and emit huge amounts of greenhouse gases from decomposing food waste.

The RDC, or Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable bins at SM Supermalls, are more than just for show; they serve as the first step toward achieving a net-zero landfill and beyond.

For recyclable waste, SM offers efforts such as the "Trash to Cash" recycling market, which successfully collects over 1 million kg of plastic, paper, and other materials each year for reuse or recycling.  The program aims to reduce solid waste pollution and foster a circular economy in local communities.  SM recognizes the necessity of segregating at the source, and the company does this through collaborations with a variety of companies, including Trust International Paper Corporation for internal bulk paper recycling.  The program has prevented landfill garbage equal to the annual waste of almost 3,000 homes while guaranteeing that recyclables are correctly processed.

For disposable, non-recyclable garbage, SM Prime formed a joint venture with Japanese environmental solutions business GUUN to form SM GUUN Environmental business, Inc. (SGECI).  This collaboration improves its waste-to-fuel facility by converting non-recyclable trash, such as single-use plastics, non-recyclable paper, and used rags, into cement fuel known as "fluff fuel" to minimize coal consumption.  The "fluff fuel" created is subsequently employed by eco-conscious cement companies such as APO Cement, Holcim, and Taiheiyo Cement in a procedure known as "co-processing," in which the fuel's ash is also used as a cement ingredient, so becoming an important part of the waste reduction ecosystem.

In 2024, SM GUUN Environmental Company transformed approximately 6,000 metric tons of non-recyclable garbage into "fluff fuel," reducing the annual landfill burden for 12,000 families.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently visited the facility and recognized its importance to many stakeholders, notably in terms of lowering carbon footprints and managing solid trash more efficiently. 

For compostable waste, SM GUUN is experimenting with a Singaporean technology for its malls and hawker centers that converts biodegradable food wastes into landscape soil, resulting in a volume decrease of over 70% within 48 hours.  This helps to develop fresh soil for gardens, parks, and golf courses, decreasing the pressure on landfills while also improving soil health and urban greenery.

Other customer-facing solid waste management programs offered by SM include the Plastic Waste Collection program, E-Waste Collection, awareness campaigns for clean water bodies, and regular estero and coastline cleanup efforts.  These programs also assist the government in encouraging proper solid waste management through RA 9004, RA 11898, and similar legislation.

With solutions identified, the journey towards SM’s #SMWasteFreeFuture becomes more realistic. It needs the help of everyone--from the proper way we “Bin it Right” to the further development of waste solutions to create an ecosystem of recovery and consumption where the word “waste” can be a thing of the past. Let’s do our part for the journey to a “waste-free future.”

To learn more about SM’s solid waste management initiatives, visit https://www.smsupermalls.com/smcares/events/environmental-programs-on-solid-waste-management.