CORA diverts 1,094 kg of waste at 18th Fit and Fun Wellness Buddy Run
- CORA Philippines
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
Pasig City, Philippines – CORA successfully diverted 1,094 kilograms of waste from landfill and oceans during the 18th Fit & Fun Wellness Buddy Run, marking its fourth consecutive year as the event's official waste diverter. In partnership with Robinsons Supermarket, the initiative integrated waste segregation and resource recovery into the annual fun run to ensure that the event is eco-friendly and waste responsible from start to finish.
To carry out the initiative, CORA mobilized its Eco-Ikot Center Women Champions, staff, and community volunteers, while working closely with the Pasig City Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO) to implement an organized waste diversion system throughout the event. Through coordinated waste collection, segregation, and recovery efforts, recyclable and compostable materials were diverted from landfills and waterways.
CORA Founder and Executive Director Antoinette Taus welcomed the opportunity to once again lead the event's waste diversion efforts.
"We are thrilled to be back at this year's Fit & Fun Wellness Buddy Run, with the Eco-Ikot Center serving once again as the event's official waste diverter."
How it was done
CORA implemented a waste management strategy that minimized the event's environmental impact while making waste segregation easy and accessible for participants.
Three waste segregation stations were installed across the main activity area. Each station included dedicated bins for:
PET bottles
Paper and cardboard
Flexible plastics
Tetra Pak cartons
Two residual waste bins provided by the Pasig City SWMO for non-recyclable materials such as paper cups, used tissues, and contaminated food waste
To help participants properly dispose of their waste, CORA's Women Champions and Pasig SWMO Staff were stationed at the main area collection areas to guide runners and ensure recyclables were placed in the correct bins.
Along the race route, CORA also deployed PET bottle collection bins at all nine hydration stations, making it convenient for runners to dispose of plastic bottles responsibly. Volunteers were stationed at each hydration area to encourage proper waste disposal throughout the race.
Beyond waste collection, CORA also set up an educational booth in the activity area where participants learned more about the organization's circular economy initiatives and were encouraged to continue recycling through CORA's Eco-Ikot Centers even after the event.
Where the Waste Goes
After the run, all collected materials from the race course and activity grounds were transported to a main consolidation area. There, CORA's Eco-Ikot Center Women Champions and Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) personnel sorted and prepared the recyclables for transport to partner facilities.
Main consolidation area
Recovered materials will be processed by CORA's recycling and upcycling partners, giving them a second life instead of becoming waste.
Processing Partners
Toplun – PET bottles and rigid plastics
Carpel Makati – Paper, cardboard, and Tetra Pak cartons
Other recyclable materials – Processed through Eco-Ikot Center partner junk shops
The impact
All the efforts came into fruition as CORA successfully diverted 1,094 kg of waste from the event. The summary are as follows:
Types of Recyclables | Weight (Kilograms) | End-of-Life Partner |
P.E.T (plastic bottles) | 188 kg | Upcycling partners |
Rigid Plastics (bottle caps, rings, etc) | 29.5 kg | |
Flexible Plastics (sachets) | 5.5 kg | |
Aluminum and Tin Cans (soda cans) | 28 kg | Partner junk shop |
Mixed Paper | 40 kg | |
Cartons | 470 kg | |
Glass bottles | 26 kg | |
Residuals | 241 kg | Pasig City SWMO |
Biodegradables /Compostables / Residuals | 66 kg | |
TOTAL Collected and Diverted | 1,094 kg |
Over four consecutive years as the event's official waste diversion partner, CORA's Eco-Ikot Center has now successfully diverted more than five metric tons of waste through the Fit & Fun Wellness Buddy Run.
Sustainable Partnership
The initiative was made possible through the continued support of Robinsons Supermarket, one of CORA's long-standing partners in advancing sustainability and circular economy solutions.
Angela "Aja" Totanes, Chief Marketing Officer of Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc., emphasized the shared commitment between the two organizations.
"We've been partners with CORA for the past four years, and that is a testament to our shared belief that every person has a responsibility to the people, the community, and the planet. Through events like the Buddy Run, we're encouraging everyone to see that taking care of ourselves also means taking care of the environment. We're grateful to CORA for this meaningful partnership."
CORA also expressed its appreciation for Robinsons Supermarket's ₱150,000 donation, which will help expand the organization's environmental programs and community-based circular economy initiatives.
To more sustainable initiatives
"This event is a live demonstration of the circular economy in action," said Tom Taus, international DJ, artist, and circular economy advocate.
The success of this year's Buddy Run demonstrates that large-scale community events can significantly reduce their environmental footprint through collaboration, proper waste management, and active public participation.
CORA hopes this initiative will inspire more event organizers, businesses, and communities to adopt responsible waste management practices, proving that sustainability can be seamlessly integrated into public events while creating lasting environmental impact.
Watch the event recap video here:
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