Erap urged: Enforce plastics ban

MANILA, Philippines -  A waste and pollution watchdog called on the city government of Manila to implement an ordinance that bans plastic bags and polystyrene packaging in order to help the city reduce its garbage problem.

“We call upon Mayor Joseph Estrada to give Ordinance 8282 the chance to help the city in cutting its plastic waste, in unclogging the esteros, and in reducing the money spent for cleanup and disposal,” said EcoWaste Coalition’s Daniel Alejandre.

Ordinance 8282 was signed on Sept. 3, 2012 by then mayor Alfredo Lim. The city government imposed a one-year moratorium on its implementation to enable businesses to make the needed adjustments.

The ordinance prohibits the use of any form of plastic bags on dry goods and regulates their use on wet goods. It also bans the use of polystyrene and similar materials for food, produce and similar products.

“This year marks the fifth anniversary of Manila’s plastic bag ordinance, which regrettably remains unimplemented to this day,” Alejandre said.

According to the 2013 Commission on Audit year-end report, Metro Manila spent P4.221 billion in combined garbage hauling expenses, with Manila spending over P512 million.

“Enforcing the plastic bag ordinance will stir Manileños into shifting to reusable bags and containers, which will help in restoring Manila Bay and other polluted water bodies,” he added.

A waste audit conducted in 2016 indicated that 79 percent of 1,482 kilos of trash  collected from Manila Bay were assorted plastic materials.