Groups urge government to back measures vs organic pollutants

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental groups EcoWaste Coalition, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) and the Mother Earth Foundation (MEF) have urged the Philippine delegation to the ongoing conference in Geneva, Switzerland to support stricter limits for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste to avoid contaminating the recycling chain.

In a press statement issued yesterday, the EcoWaste, IDIS and MEF specifically urged the Philippine delegation to the Triple Conferences of the Parties of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, being held in Geneva today until June 17, to align the Philippines with the African nations seeking stricter limits in POPs in waste.

At least 53 countries belonging to the African bloc are advocating for stricter limits for POPs such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers in waste under the Basel Convention, to stop imports of PBDE-containing e-waste into the region and to end recycling of POPs into new products.

“Countries on the receiving end of the inequitable global waste trade will suffer more if parties accept less stringent limits for POPs in waste,” EcoWaste national coordinator Aileen Lucero said.

“Delegates must negotiate with the paramount interest of people’s health and the environment in mind and decide on the most stringent limits that will in effect block the transfer of POPs-containing products and wastes to developing nations to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems,” she added.

IDIS executive director Mark Peñalver explained that if stricter limits are adopted, “governments can then enact regulations based on these limits to stop the entry of POPs-contaminated wastes into our ports, markets and households.”

“Establishing stricter limits is necessary to ensure that waste materials containing POPs do not contaminate the recycling chain with these persistent chemicals,” MEF chairperson Sonia Mendoza said.