PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) will set up electronic waste collection bins in Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) offices nationwide, so employees can dispose of used and broken electronics linked to telecommunications and digital services.
The partnership is part of PLDT and Smart’s flagship e-waste management program “Be Kind. Recycle.” Collected items will go to the companies’ authorized partner treatment, storage, and disposal facilities for proper handling under applicable environmental and human rights laws and regulations.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment towards supporting our country in managing the impacts of e-waste on our people and the environment, and in transitioning towards a circular economy,” Manuel V. Pangilinan, chair and CEO, PLDT and Smart, said in a media advisory.
The program has more than 200 collection points nationwide through partnerships with commercial establishments, schools, enterprises, cooperatives, local government units, professional organizations, and trade communities.
Since 2023, PLDT and Smart said they have collected and recovered 42.5 metric tons of e-waste. The companies estimate that this avoided 17.3 metric tons of carbon emissions.
The SEC partnership also includes activities to teach employees and stakeholders about proper disposal and recycling. It is part of the SEC Sustainability Week Program and supports the Commission’s work on environmental, social, and governance transparency and sustainability reporting standards.
“The SEC strongly supports initiatives that incorporate sustainability into the core of corporate practices. We encourage all market participants to do their part in driving the shift to a more sustainable future,” SEC Chair Francis Lim said.
PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Vergel de Dios acknowledged that the use of their services and network upgrades contribute to e-waste, although the companies do not manufacture electronics.
Separately, Smart works with device manufacturers that use recycled components in production and offer customers trade-in and trade-up programs for devices.