By 2011, plastic bags and styrofoam/styrophor materials would no longer be used by business establishments in Muntinlupa following the passage of an ordinance to ban these non-biodegradable materials for good.

City Ordinance 10-109 – enacted by councilors and approved by Mayor Aldrin San Pedro this week – is a landmark local legislation that aims to lessen pollution and boost environmental protection.

The ban on plastic bags is already in place in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles in California. China imposed a total ban on plastic bag use in 2008. Countries such as Taiwan, Belgium, and Italy have imposed tax on the use of plastic bags.

Under the ordinance, the ban on the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam/styrophor materials will take effect next year to give business establishments one year to prepare for its implementation.

The ordinance covers sando bags, pouch, plastic shopping bags and plastic film bags, and Styrofoam/styrophor materials such as disposable food containers, cups, plates and the like.

By next year, business establishments will be prohibited from providing plastic bags to consumers as packing materials for dry goods and primary packing materials for wet goods such as fish, poultry and meat products.

They will also be barred from using styrofoam/styrophor and other similar materials as containers of food, produce, and other products.

Offering or selling plastic bags as secondary packing material or primary packing material for dry goods will also be prohibited.

San Pedro noted that plastic bags and styrofoam and styrophor materials are non-biodegradable and may clog rivers, creeks, and other waterways causing floods. He added that these materials end up in the Laguna Lake.

“Plastic bags and styrofoam materials are a major contributor to the clogging of waterways in Metro Manila,” he said.

The mayor said the ordinance aims to greatly reduce if not totally eliminate the use of plastic bags as packing materials.

It also encourages the public to use alternative materials such as bayong (woven bags), cloth bags (katsa), paper bags and other similar materials.

As part of the ordinance, the city government will promote the “bring your own bag” program among residents.

The city government will conduct a massive information campaign to educate residents and business establishments on the use of alternative and biodegradable packaging materials.

Dialogues will be conducted between the city government and business establishments for the smooth implementation of the ordinance.

Violators of the ordinance will be fined P500 to P2,500 depending on the decision of a court.