by: Rivka T. Nagtalon

NUVALI now plays host to the Ayala Recyclables Fair on a quarterly basis. Launched last April, the Recyclables Fair (formerly known as Waste Market), will be in NUVALI July 26 and October 25 for 2008. After its initial run in April, NUVALI has decided to regularly host the fair to promote sustainable waste management. Consistent with NUVALI’s sustainability proposition, the Recyclables Fair is a waste management program that supports waste segregation at source to promote reduction, reuse and recycling of disposables. Proper segregation and disposal of solid wastes is an everyday system Laguna residents can begin to transition to as a sustainable practice.

NUVALI recommends that the following items be bundled together:

1. Ink and toner cartridges
2. Paper and carton products such as used bond/pad paper,notepads, newspaper, books, magazines, directories, boxes or milk cartons
3. Used lead-acid battery
4. Plastic and metal products such as bottles, cans, or pipes
5. E-waste (electronic waste) such as CDs, DVDs, old home or office appliances

Once these have been bundled together, all one has to do is go over to NUVALI as early as 8:00 am on fair day and follow these simple steps:

1. Load recyclables in your vehicle and proceed to NUVALI.
2. Park at the fair grounds and proceed to registration booth.
3. Register at the booth and get control stubs.
4. Stubs correspond to each bundle you bring. These stubs shall serve as your guide at the fair.
5. Proceed to the booth that matches with your stub.
6. Unload appropriate bundle for evaluation or weighing.
7. Receive payment from recycler based on standardized pricing chart.

Proper disposal, particularly of hazardous materials such as ink toners and lead-acid batteries, require professional handling. The fair is a venue for items one may find difficult to dispose of through the handling of participant recyclers. The participants are accredited recyclers who have been organized through the Ayala Recyclables Fair. Other items such as tarpaulin banners and streamers, old clothes and shoes shall be accepted as donation. Defunct mobile phones, batteries and chargers may also be dropped off for proper disposal only. NUVALI’s waste management program supports proper systems for segregation at source to a materials recovery facility, down to a disposal system. A culture for sustainable living is engendered in NUVALI with the appropriate infrastructure for the responsible use of water and energy, and proper reuse, recycling and disposal of wastes. Pen the dates July 26 and October 25, and start bundling your trash. For more on NUVALI’s sustainability programs, NUVALI’s Visitors Centeer is located by the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road entrance, and open Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.