Malabon, Philippines — One year after Barangay Potrero in Malabon City first launched its “Tingi Tindahan” program, the initiative continues to help reduce the repeated use and growing volume of single-use plastics in the community.
From July 2025 to May 2026, an estimated 112,000 single-use plastic sachets were prevented from being used by residents.
The Tingi Tindahan is part of the barangay’s Zero Waste Community and serves as a resell and reuse store, where customers can bring their own containers to purchase or refill products such as vinegar, fish sauce, soy sauce, and liquid detergents at affordable prices.
Using the vending machine, customers can purchase the mentioned products for five pesos or more, providing enough supply for their daily needs.
The concept of using reusable containers helps significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste being thrown away, which has a major impact on the environment and public health.
According to Barangay Captain Sheryl Nolasco, the initiative is the first barangay-based Zero Waste Store in the Philippines.
The project was created to promote proper solid waste management within the community.
Aside from essential household products sold in refillable quantities, the store also offers recyclable products made from thick plastic materials, such as woven plastic strips, which are transformed into bags, wallets, and hats.
Dried sponge gourds, or loofahs, are also available as natural and sustainable alternatives to synthetic bath sponges.
As part of its solid waste management program, Barangay Potrero also strictly encourages residents to properly segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
The segregated waste is collected by the Potrero Waste Warriors and transported to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), where recyclable materials are processed for reuse.
Households that fail to properly segregate their waste will not have their garbage collected and may face fines of no less than ₱500 upon their third violation.
Barangay Potrero is also one of the active participants in the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Mobile Materials Recovery Facility (MMRF) program.
Under the program, residents can exchange recyclable waste materials for grocery items.
The MMDA has also recognized the barangay’s pioneering initiative, which has become one of its partners in promoting ecological solid waste management.
Barangay Potrero’s Tingi Tindahan also served as the model for the rollout of Eco-TINGIndahans under the “Yes to Ayos” Campaign, an initiative that promotes the principles of Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (4Rs).
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