Upcycling of campaign waste materials, highlighted in May 2025 Kamayan forum
In line with the recently concluded May 2025 midterm elections, government agencies and organizations discussed the disposal of campaign materials in the May 2025 Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan forum, “Operation Baklas: Post Election,” organized by Green Convergence on May 16, Friday, via Zoom and Facebook livestream.
According to Director Frances Aguindadao Arabe, National Coordinator of the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) Task Force Baklas and the Vice Head of the Committee on Environmentally Sustainable Elections, 665,780 tarpaulins have been taken down nationwide as of May 10, 2025.
COMELEC issued 15,398 notices to remove campaign materials nationwide to midterm election candidates, allotting three days to comply, as it may be filed as an election offense. This notice is in line with COMELEC Resolution No. 11111, which ensures environmentally sustainable elections.
A complaint center was also established to give show cause orders to candidates who violate orders to take down campaign materials. As of date, 82 cases have been filed for disqualification due to failure to follow show cause orders.
On disposal, Dir. Aguindadao Arabe said that COMELEC is working closely with the EcoWaste Coalition. They are also in talks with another private entity that recycles plastic waste; however the tarpaulins are still undergoing toxicity tests before recycling and repurposing.
Furthermore, COMELEC is also in talks with the Quezon City and Marikina City governments, noting their efficient disposal systems for the left-behind campaign materials. Other local government units are also said to be involved in the initiatives to collect and repurpose the materials.
As COMELEC’s partner in Operation Baklas, National Coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition Aileen Lucero discussed the steps taken in upcycling the collected campaign materials, along with its advantages and disadvantages.
Upcycling campaign materials can be a “stop gap” for plastics entering the environment, create job or business opportunities, serve as an avenue for creative expression, and aid in cost savings.
On the other hand, disadvantages include the costly demand of materials and equipment needed to upcycle, as well as time and effort; the durability and lifespan of end products; and, most especially, exposure to toxic chemicals.
Lucero said EcoWaste submitted 42 tarpaulin samples to SGS Laboratories for confirmatory analysis, and all samples were found to have exceeded the 100 ppm (parts per million) safety standard.
Cadmium was also discovered in the tarpaulin samples. Cadmium is said to be highly toxic, and exposure to it can cause cancer, renal, gastrointestinal, and neurological problems, and other health concerns to humans—even plants and animals, especially aquatic animals—when ingested.
With this, Lucero said that they make sure upcycled products from campaign materials have no direct link with food: bags, book or notebook covers, bookmarks, envelopes, and others that are mostly used in school.
Lucero then amplified their calls for trash-free elections in the future, emphasizing the responsibility of candidates in using environmentally acceptable materials and conducting post-election clean-up drives and other carbon offsetting activities.
“‘Yung iniiwan na electoral waste, nagiging responsibilidad ng ating mga LGUs na dapat hindi naman sila ‘yun,” Lucero said, adding that this causes a shift in the use of public funds.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is also actively conducting Operation Baklas, following a directive to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and its regional offices to lead the collection, repurposing, reusing, and recycling of campaign materials together with LGUs.
DENR Litigation and Prosecution Division Chief Atty. Karren Cecile Panopio-Lofranco said that DENR actively shares through social media “EcoTips” that people can do to upcycle left-behind campaign materials.
Atty. Panopio-Lofranco also mentioned that DENR has been closely working with civic, non-governmental groups and organizations like Green Convergence to ensure proper roll-out of Operation Baklas.
Moreover, President of the Philippine Network of Educators for the Environment (PNEE) and Trustee of Green Convergence Dr. Cecilia Gascon shared in the forum that the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) will be actively involved in Operation Baklas.
In coordination with the Office of the Mayor of Quezon Province, SLSU will mobilize this initiative along with nine of their satellite campuses, ensuring the youth’s active participation in civic and environmental activities.
“Operation Baklas exemplifies how youth-driven civic action can contribute to a cleaner community and a more sustainable electoral culture. With strong partnerships and proactive execution, this initiative can set a model for other towns seeking a post-election environmental recovery,” Dr. Gascon expressed.
On repurposing plastic waste, Executive Vice President of Alpha Distinct Development Solutions, Inc. (Alpha DDSI) Michelle Tañada shared that, as recipients of the Department of Science and Technology Industrial Technology Development Institute’s (DOST-ITDI) agriculture and plastic waste wood composite technology, tarpaulins can be turned into “agriwaste tiles.”
“Whole year-round, may eleksyon o wala, this [repurposed plastic waste] is something that us, the Filipinos, can also use in our daily lifestyle,” Tañada said, expressing pride in Filipino technology.
Director of Zero Waste Philippines and Board Secretary of Green Convergence Clarissa Magsarili closed the forum, reiterating the need for ecological awareness and how it teaches the importance of recycling and upcycling waste.
Furthermore, the next Kamayan forum was announced to be on June 20, 2025.
Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan is a monthly initiative organized by Green Convergence Philippines that enables non-government organizations (NGOs) and government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss, analyze, and create solutions to pressing environmental issues in the country.
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