Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escape into the oceans and degrade the marine water – affecting fish and other aquatic organisms. Plastic waste takes up to 1,000 years to decompose, causing a build-up in the receiving environment. ADJV Environmental Management Unit (EMU) launched the "Shoot that Bottle, Score for the Planet" program in February, mandating ADJV staff and site workers to bring recyclable plastics every Friday and submit them at the designated collection bins. This aims to prevent these plastics from being improperly disposed of in rivers and eventually in oceans. Active participation is rewarded in exchange for the number of plastics brought [eco-friendly pen for ten (10) bottles, mug for fifty (50) bottles, and tumbler for one hundred (100) bottles]. To date, several kilograms of plastics have already been collected from the site workers and employees alike. Besides redirecting the endpoint of these plastics from being washed onshore, proceeds from the collected waste are also used to sustain and support other programs of the EMU to promote sustainability.
