FBLJV’s 1,105 kilograms of material raised P6,000 which was donated to the local government’s charitable causesThe First Balfour-Leighton Joint Venture (FBLJV), which leads the STT Fairview 1 project in Quezon City, became the first construction project to collaborate with “QC BasuHero: A Recyclables Trading for a Cause” after donating 100% of its recyclable wastes to the program.

Led by the Department of Sanitation and Cleanup Works of Quezon City (DSQC), QC BasuHero is a community-based initiative that incentivizes the collection of recyclables. It enables businesses, barangays and homeowners’ associations to trade their recyclable wastes for cash. The DSQC said it is rare for construction companies to join as schools and QC-based corporations have been the typical contributors to their program.

FBLJV pollution control officer Jasmin Jill Dumasig said: “With our operations, we really have a lot of recyclables, especially boxes, since we always transport items. We looked at the recyclables we collect and thought it would be a waste if they were discarded, so we looked for ways for them to be used.”

In May, QC BasuHero had a successful first haul of recyclable materials including used boxes, metal sheets, plastic bottles, paper and other hard plastics totaling 414 kilograms. A second waste collection in June saw FBLJV turn over 691 kilograms of recyclable wastes. The 1,105 kilograms of material generated P6,000 which the project donated to the local government’s charitable causes.

“We saw that the QC BasuHero program goes beyond segregating. It has different causes,” Dumasig explained.

FBLJV aims to maintain and even expand its recycling efforts. Its collaboration with QC BasuHero marks a practice that does not only help in reducing waste but also paves the way for other companies in the industry to adopt greener practices.

Awarded by ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Philippines in 2023, STT Fairview 1 is First Balfour’s largest specialized building project to date with JV partner Leighton Asia. The contract, which covers general construction works including civil, structural, architectural, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection works, is for the project’s first phase scheduled for completion by early 2025.

(Story/Photos by:Kyrhen Angela Dimaandal)