With no room for sprawling landfills and limited options for hauling garbage to mainland facilities, island communities are often left to bear the brunt of mismanaged plastic and residual waste.
But three islands—Isla Verde in Batangas City, Siquijor, and Apo Island off Negros Oriental—are rewriting that narrative. Backed by grassroots energy and strategic support from environmental groups Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), and War on Waste - Break Free From Plastic-Negros Oriental (WOW-BFFP NegOr), they’ve achieved remarkable success through Zero Waste programs tailored to their needs.
Their stories, documented by GAIA Asia Pacific, offer hope and a roadmap for others that are grappling with marine pollution. GAIA is a network of grassroots groups and regional alliances representing more than 1,000 organizations across 92 countries
The marine imperative
“Reducing land-based waste isn’t just a solid waste issue—it’s a marine protection strategy,” says Merci Ferrer of WOW-BFFP NegOr. “On islands, everything flows to the sea. Protecting our oceans starts with protecting the land.”
That approach is evident in all three islands, where community-driven waste management now complements conservation efforts in biodiversity hotspots.
Isla Verde: Scaling up from the ground
Located 45 minutes by boat from Batangas Port, Isla Verde’s turnaround began in 2019 when Batangas City partnered with MEF to implement its 10-step Zero Waste program. While the city already had an environmental code and a solid waste plan, applying these to an island context was uneven and under-resourced.
MEF helped address these gaps through:
Mass information and education campaigns
Household composting initiatives
Reactivation of barangay Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
As a result, daily waste diversion jumped from 852 kg in 2019 to 13,763 kg in 2022, and household segregation compliance rose from 30 percent to 70 percent.
Siquijor: Landfill crisis spurs systemic shift
When Siquijor’s only landfill maxed out, building a new one wasn’t an option—the island’s geology ruled it out. Instead, local leaders enforced dormant environmental laws and launched a province-wide Zero Waste program.
Today:
89 of 134 barangays run functional MRFs
Waste diversion stands at 60 percent
SUP (single-use plastic) bans are enforced in markets and groceries
Communities manage biodegradable waste at the household level
Youth organizations, waste workers’ associations, and consistent training for barangay officials helped ensure the program’s sustainability—even during post-election transitions when compliance typically dips.
“The progress in Batangas and Siquijor didn’t come from empty slogans,” says Rap Villavicencio, MEF’s deputy director for programs. “It took years of building trust, adapting strategies to local realities, and holding leaders accountable.”
“These communities had to confront messy, entrenched habits—like inconsistent segregation and weak enforcement—and they’re still working through those challenges. But the difference now is a growing sense of ownership and political commitment that keeps the work going even when it’s difficult,” Villavicencio adds.
Apo Island: From reef protector to waste innovator
Apo Island has long been known for its pioneering marine sanctuary. In 2022, it gained another title: the first officially recognized Zero Waste island barangay in the country.
It all started with a community survey flagging waste as a top concern. With support from MEF and WOW-BFFP NegOr, Apo enacted a local ordinance, built four MRFs, and decentralized collection. By 2021, the island had already achieved 53 percent waste diversion—and compliance with segregation now hits 99 percent.
“Zero Waste here isn’t just a program. It’s a culture shift,” says Ferrer. “It works because it’s deeply rooted in the island’s identity as a conservation leader.”
“Apo Island’s success came not just from infrastructure but from a deep alignment between marine conservation and waste management. Local leaders, waste workers, residents, and partner organizations worked closely to create a system that respects both people and nature,” adds Ferrer.
Bigger lessons from smaller islands
For GAIA Asia Pacific’s Sherma Benosa, the implications go beyond local wins.
“Islands teach us this: waste management can’t happen in isolation. Islands are not as remote and disconnected as we view them; what happens on one often impacts many. The tides make sure of that. The very same oceans that divide us also connect us. On islands, it’s clear: there’s no “away,” only shared waters—and shared responsibility.”
The common factors in these successes include:
Clear policies and local ordinances
Technical support from NGOs
Strong monitoring and data collection
Empowerment of frontline waste workers
Community-wide education and ownership
As Ambily Adithyan, Zero Waste Cities officer of GAIA Asia Pacific, puts it, “A zero waste island isn't just a vision, it’s living proof that community-led solutions, supported by strong local leadership, can build resilient, sustainable systems.”
From isolation to inspiration
These islands, once considered too remote for scalable waste solutions, now serve as proof-of-concept for zero waste systems that center equity, ecology, and empowerment.
In a world drowning in plastic, the Philippines’ island communities are offering something invaluable: models that work—not just in theory, but in practice. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
