Santo Domingo’s municipal government is set to host the sixth iteration of its innovative environmental program, ‘Plastics for Toys,’ on Sunday, January 11. Spearheaded by National District Mayor Carolina Mejía, the event will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at City Hall, exclusively catering to residents of the National District.
This community-driven initiative establishes a direct exchange mechanism where participants can trade cleaned and crushed plastic bottles, complete with their caps, for new toys. The program features a tiered exchange system: 500 bottles qualify for a bicycle, while 300 bottles can be redeemed for other assorted toys. To ensure equitable distribution, a limit of two toys per person will be enforced, requiring presentation of valid identification.
Beyond the environmental exchange, Mayor Mejía has announced accompanying festivities including live children’s entertainment, musical performances, and refreshments. The municipal government emphasized the program’s dual significance, highlighting both its waste reduction achievements and its role in public education. Official data reveals that the ‘Plastics for Toys’ program, along with its sister initiative ‘Plastics for School Supplies,’ has successfully diverted over 33 million plastic bottles from streets and landfills. These efforts collectively represent one of the nation’s most substantial ongoing campaigns for environmental awareness and sustainable practice adoption.