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Plastic bag ban helps reduce waste management costs – group

By JONATHAN M. HICAP
February 2, 2011, 5:50pm

MANILA, Philippines – A waste and pollution watchdog said the local government units (LGUs) will benefit in terms of cost reduction if they ban plastic bags and polystyrene food containers in their areas.

The Ecowaste Coalition said LGUs should follow what Muntinlupa did, enacting an ordinance which banned business establishments from using these materials as packaging for wet and dry goods.

Troy Lacsamana of the EcoWaste Coalition's Task Force Plastics said a ban will control, if not eradicate, plastic pollution and will benefit LGUs by meeting their waste reduction targets and decrease their expenses for garbage disposal.

“Our LGUs have been carrying the plastic garbage burden, spending millions of pesos in de-clogging waterways and in managing residual plastic discards,” he said.

The plastic bag and polystyrene food container ban in Muntinlupa took effect last January 18 as mandated by Ordinance 10-109.

Ecowaste Coalition has also thrown its support to the proposal by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) urging local government units (LGUs) to impose strong measures to curb plastic pollution.

“We praise Chairman Francis Tolentino’s eagerness to ban plastic bags and containers similar to what Muntinlupa and other innovative LGUs have done,” said Lacsamana.

Tolentino earlier praised Muntinlupa City for enacting the ordinance, which is the first citywide ban on plastic bags and polystyrene food containers in Metro Manila.

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Comments

Mon, 04/18/2011 - 11:09 — mudllehead94

plastic bags are useful in every aspect but it poses a huge garbage problem. it is good to know that some huge shopping centers provide biodegradable plastics bags. that is such a big help for the environment. but how about those who produce plastics bags which are far more difficult to degrade?nature can not process them quickly enough so its piling up.it is the main problem in garbage disposal like in our little barangay. after garbage segration, what's next for the plastic bags?wait for them to degrade naturally?for how long? the same problem with diapers, whatever brand it is.after you soiled it, dispose properly, then what?it keeps on piling up!nature cant do it alone.would it be a great idea if the manufacturers themselves provide proper disposal techniques that would greatly help the environment? shampoo sachets, coffee foil containers and many more contribute to the ever head breaking garbage disposal problem.can i sue these manufacturers?

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 09:00 — nobrainer

Maybe banning would be good for the environment,but what about those working in the said industry how about their jobs? Those people who are earning below minimun just to support their families, what will happen to them? Maybe this is just a short term solution to the problem. Why dont we look into recycling plants. Yes we recycle metal, bulbs,and other materials. What are we going to do with this just burn them? I think it high time that we look into such problem and make a long term plan and not just on a short term basis.

Thu, 02/03/2011 - 07:20 — psychiatryleader

I am a Filipino-Cdn. who frequently visits the Phil. and my biggest concern is the over use of plastics and polystyrene food containers all over the country.. I think its great that the gov't will start policing and hopefully ban the use of these products. I truly believe that the LGU's should start educating the masses especially in the rural areas.
Here in North America , the use of these products are getting lesser and people are making conscious decision by bringing their own shopping bags when they go grocery shopping..The merchants also give the consumers a liitle discount when they bring their own bags.
In Negros Occidental where I originally came from, it is very sad to see the nice beach where my friends and I used to go swimming is now so polluted that the whole area is not safe to swim anymore..
So, kudos for this great program for protecting and at the same time rehabilitating the environment.