Regulating plastics in Cebu City
Although Cebu City was under Typhoon Signal No. 1 on Tuesday, the Cebu City Council, presided by Vice Mayor Mike Rama, proceeded with the public hearing about four ordinances proposing the regulation of plastics, especially foam containers and single-use plastics.
Councilor Nestor Archival’s ordinance intends to amend Section 15 of City Ordinance No. 2343 expanding the days for business establishments to use or sell plastic shopping bags every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Councilor Alvin Dizon’s proposal, adopted last September 24, is focused on the prohibition of foam food containers and single-use plastics in all public events. Councilor Eduardo Rama Jr. also submitted a related-proposal adopted last October 22 prohibiting the use of single-use disposal materials, including utensils and cutlery, in all business establishments. Adopted November 5, Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. proposed the prohibition of the use of single-use plastics within Cebu City.
We truly appreciate the determination and initiatives of these council members to regulate plastics in Cebu City.
Councilor Rama Jr. noted that according to the 2008- 2018 National Solid Waste Status Report of the DENR, plastic packaging materials comprise 38% of waste fraction. A Ten-Year Ecological Solid Waste Plan (2018-2028) noted plastics among the 28% residual wastes in Cebu City.
These council members emphasized the adverse effects of single-use plastics and foam containers for people and environment. Plastics take hundreds of years to photodegrade, affect biodiversity, have killed so many whales, turtles, other sea creatures, and, responsible for the pollution of oceans and other water bodies, here and elsewhere in the world.
While plastics are convenient to use, it is time for all, not just the Cebu Council, to truly reflect and decide whether the convenience of plastic can be justified against the immeasurable costs and damages plastics pose to the economy (tourism, fisheries, agriculture), to human health (toxic fumes resulting from burning, contamination of water sources, food chain contamination and aggravation of natural disasters – blocking of drainage systems causing flooding) and to the environment (biodiversity loss, ocean and land pollution).
We completely agree with Mr. Francis Dy of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry that there is an urgent need for eco-friendly and cost-friendly replacement and alternatives to plastics to be made available. Perhaps, business may want to support the research and production of such alternatives as they will be adversely affected by the strict regulation vs plastic use?
It may be of interest to all that in 2015, Amin Hataman, a student at the Fountain International School in San Juan City, Metro Manila, won international awards for inventing biodegradable plastic bags made from nata de coco? (Emphasis supplied)
A May, 2018 report also noted that the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) developed a biodegradable polymer, a more environment-friendly alternative to synthetic plastics. For more information on DOST-ITDI services and technologies, click on the link http://www.itdi.dost.gov.ph.
Here in Cebu, Denxybel Montinola, a 23-year-old a graduate of Bachelor in Science in Applied Physics graduate from the University of San Carlos, created his bioplastic from mango peel and seaweed.
University of the Philippines Los Baños BS Chemical Engineering graduate Ryan Christian Suplito also created his bioplastic prototype from sugarcane bagasse, while BS Chemical Engineering student Chester Tantoco made his prototype from corn stover (leaves, stalks, and cobs of maize left after harvest).
So much hope that united efforts can finally replace plastics and eco- cost-friendly alternative waste management options effectively implemented here in Cebu, in the Philippines, and throughout the world.
Together with the Cebu City Council, we can start with a waste management database and effective waste management network to provide information and clear waste management alternatives for all.
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