Re-Store plans to create an online eco-conscious community whereby any business and individuals in the Metro Manila—from restaurants to offices, schools to houses—can post their unwanted but usable equipment, furniture, computers, books, etc. The community can then search for the item in the website www.Re-Store.ph and offer to take the items off their original owners’ hands for free. Simply, the project aims to build a nationwide gifting movement by matching unwanted goods with individuals who can use them and to create eco-opportunities. Not only does the environment benefit from this system, it will also save businesses and individuals thousands of pesos in waste disposal and procurement costs, while forging closer ties among local community.
2. What specific need/problem does it address?
I would like to help solve the problem on waste management in Metro Manila. For at least a decade, the situation has become increasingly difficult to deal with. At present there are two major landfills used for storage of Metro Manila’s municipal solid waste: (1) the modern sanitary landfill in San Mateo, Rizal, and (2) the dumpsite in Payatas, Quezon City.
The crisis began in late 1999. Residents of San Mateo blocked the road leading to the dump site. They complained of the waste materials that fell off some 1,000 heavy trucks that passed by their homes daily. In early 2000 a major landslide occurred at the dumpsite in Payatas killing a large number of people living as scavengers at the site.
Today the small dumpsites are filling up quickly because Metro Manila produces 8,700 tons of garbage every day. No large-scale solution to the problem is yet in sight.
3. How did it start?
It’s a product of World Merit (www.worldmerit.org) group discussion which I initiated and dubbed as FREE-CYCLE MOVEMENT. The idea evolved to this platform, Re-Store Project.
The project website is under construction and is expected to be launched on November 2013.
4. How does it work?
It targets to keep usable items out of landfill by matching unwanted goods with individuals who can use them.
In Re-Store Project, Individuals/Corporatios/NGOs can post or donate items they no longer need, find items they want, and support the environment through action. The figure below explains the three(3) main processes wherein the project operates
5. How does it use social media in its fundraising, marketing and operations?
Social media will play a major role in building and marketing this nationwide gifting movement and to create eco-opportunities that reduce waste, saves precious resources, and eases the burden on our landfills.
6. Who are the founders and what do they do?
Mark Aethen G. Agana,
Technical Consultant, USAID Projects
Mark Bantigue
Marketing Manager, Groupon Philippines
7. What is your advice/message to aspiring changemakers/social entrepreneurs?
Since we have a serious problem on waste management in Metro Manila, I thought of starting a cause no matter how small it is to address this problem. The evidence is all around us that there is a need to pay better attention to our environment.
Set an example.
I am personally committed to greater environmental consciousness. Someone must start and encourage reducing, reusing, and recycling in a fun and practical way. If someone walks the talk, others will follow.
Inspire everyone to do the same.
This is my way to involve Filipinos in the effort to support the environment through recycling, reducing, and reusing waste.
We all want to live greener. We all want to cut costs. And with the right mechanism, encouragement, and support we can do both as long as we work together as a community that cares for the environment.
Contact Person: Mark Aethen G. Agana
Email Address: mark.agana@gmail.com
Mobile/Landline: 0927 754 9036
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReStore.ph
Twitter: @NonitoAgana
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Mark Delgado is a Certified Blog and Social Media Entrepreneur (CBSME) who is passionate about consultative works, creative writing, events management, ideation, startupreneurship, strategic marketing and training. He founded Mediactiv8, a startup social media marketing company that advocates digital marketing education and entrepreneurship in the Philippines. To see more of his works, please check out www.facebook.com/Mediactiv8.
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