Enjoyed this post & want to show your gratitude? - Eco Warrior Princess. According to a 2016 report carried out by German consultancy firm GVM, at the municipal level, only 15% of waste is properly disposed of, while only 5% of waste is recycled. JCPRA started recycling glass and PET bottles in 1997, and successfully expanded operations to include paper, plastic containers, and wrappers in specified business entities by 2000. The waste problem, and particularly the plastic pollution problem, is made more complex in a developing country like the Philippines. In Japan, for example, their PRO called the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association (JCPRA) actively coordinates with concerned government ministries, municipalities, and consumers. Perhaps a fence. The United Nations called this problem one of the great environmental challenges of all time. This will ensure consistent and quality waste collection and recycling. "There should be a focus on reducing waste in the first place. MANILA, Philippines The Philippines has among the highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia yet it's the world's 3rd biggest source of plastic leaking into the ocean. Also Kim Atienza talks about the plastic waste pollution problem in the Philippines. "If we ban plastics, prices of consumer goods will increase, as alternatives to plastics are more expensive," Rodriguez added. Flood is inevitable; the problem is made worse because garbage dumping in the river is a habit practiced by many Filipinos. The good news is, more and more towns and stores in the country are banning plastic and introducing plastic-free options. Shampoo, soap, and food sachets remain the most affordable and easily accessible items. WWF: 200 marine species die from ingesting plastic bags and choking from them In a report released a few years ago, the Ocean Conservancy singled out the Philippines as one of five countries from where majority of plastics originates. The problem, he said, lies in the implementation. According to Ocean Conservancy's Plastics Policy Playbook, EPR fees can close the financing gap by about 75%. Low-income LGUs have a hard time implementing the provisions in RA 9003 due to "limited funds, space availability, and resources," as seen in recovery facilities that are only used as storage for segregation. The fight against the virus has compromised the battle against plastics. This amount of waste is not only an environmental problem but also a risk to public health. worlds top three worst offenders of plastic pollution, almost 92 percent of Americans are tested BPA-positive, implications of high BPA in the human body, drop them off to an eco brick organisation. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have resorted to eco-bricks, but Filipinos continue to be at the forefront of the eco-brick movement, practiced by zero waste advocates such as Angel Mata aka Zero Waste Filipina and Phoebe Blas of Mean Living. Some plastics that exist today have been around since before I was born as they just dont break down easily. : plastic bottles and much more) in the Earths environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. It also refers to the significant amount of plastic that isnt recycled and ends up in landfill or, in the developing world, thrown into unregulated dump sites. The EPR scheme will obligate those who place packaged goods on the market to pay for the cost of collection, sorting, recycling, and safe disposal. Never miss our posts. Given the situation, establishing another system such as the EPR may overwhelm the status quo. But according to the WWF Philippines, there are only 10,730 materials recovery facilities in the country as of 2018. Coke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the Philippines Multinational food and beverage companies Coca-Cola, Nestl and PepsiCo are the main contributors to the worlds plastic waste, according to a recently released global report based on a massive brand audit by green groups across 51 countries. EPR closes the plastic flow loop, making sure that waste is processed and reproduced as other packaging items, and does not end up in the environment. The Philippines is hit with an average of 20 typhoons a year. of how much plastic waste, particularly those with branded packaging, are discarded by households. Organic waste comprise more than 50% of generated waste in the Philippines, affirming that organic waste management Water and other beverage bottles, along with their caps, are the biggest They can be used in the wall of a house. Surprisingly, hosting these natural wonders doesn't necessarily equate to being the most environmentally conscious nation. Iya Gozum is a member of Rappler's digital communications team. Garbage collectors wont pick up your garbage when not properly segregated; residents can expect to be fined if they dont separate non-biodegradable and biodegradable items. On the other hand, the world's medical frontliners need 89 million medical masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles monthly, according to the World Health Organization. Recent reports on plastic consumption paint an even more depressing picture, as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led the world to rely more on plastics. It is where she finds freedom. The COVID-19 crisis also presents a unique challenge, one that will need a response that balances health and environment. The use of single-use plastics surged following institutions' efforts to curb infections. 1331, which amends RA 9003 to include EPR. With LGUs already lacking funds to properly implement the current solid waste management system, who is going to finance the EPR system? Save them up and drop them off to an eco brick organisation that are accepting donations. Ultimately, it facilitates a reduced amount of plastic from producers. Such revenue helps keep this website running, helps us pay our growing core team and allows us to keep the content free for readers like you. (READ: How going zero waste is addressing PH's plastic pollution). By Imelda V. Abano . Barbers said a recent waste and brand audit conducted on June 1 showed that six of 10 leading plastic polluters in six major cities in the Philippines are multinational brands. "It all boils down to the government's implementation, and to provide resources," Bueta said, noting that the implementation of RA 9003 will affect EPR. The main aim of the site is to allow as many recyclable materials as possible to be segregated so that they can be sold to the local junk shops. Scientific evidence and a growing restlessness over climate change and the environment have led to movements demanding a shift in the way we consume products, especially those with plastic packaging. The congressman finds EPR as as alternative to a total plastic ban. Environmental groups are accusing the Trudeau government of acting in bad faith after it quietly signed a bilateral agreement with the U.S. that could allow it to evade some of its obligations to stop shipping plastic waste to poor countries around the world.The agreement which was never publicly announced or gazetted was signed on Oct. 26, 2020, the U.S. State Department told CBC Why? by EnviroNewsph; June 5, 2018 Tweet. All stakeholders, especially the private sector, will be organized in a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), a system operator that will ensure that responsibility is fair and distributed properly within the industry. A stool for, for example, can be created with just 12 eco bricks! If you like our site, think our work is important and want to pledge your support, you can pledge a donation through Patreon. He was referring to the effectiveness of legal safeguards that multinational companies have to follow and the working dynamics of the private sector and government. (READ: Single-use plastics, still the environment's number 1 enemy). This scheme is presented as one of the initiatives to stop the flow ofplasticinto nature by 2030. A 2015 study found that the Philippines is one of the world's top five producers of plastic waste in the worldalong with China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The pandemic has highlighted the pressing need to make bolder action plans to combat plastic pollution. They may even change business models to adapt to their new mandate, opting for refillables and reusables. It does not help that the Philippines is struggling to manage its growing waste and plastic crisis. Every citizen has the right to a healthy environment, supported by an effective solid waste management system. Under the EPR scheme, manufacturers should apply eco-design principles to their packaging to reduce the amount of material used and make a product easier to reuse and recycle. Manila, Philippines: The home is a sanctuary. Oct 9, 2020 5:00 PM PHT. ), total ban on plastics in the Philippines is not possible, How going zero waste is addressing PH's plastic pollution. The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China account for 60 percent of the worlds marine plastic, or 8 million tonnes annually, according to the Ocean Conservancy non-profit. Copyright 2010-2018. As of 2018, the JCPRA processed 82,492 contracts with businesses, amounting to 1,563,937 tons of containers and wrapping recycled. You may email her at iya.gozum@rappler.com. plastic waste has increased from 1,500 tons to 6,300 tons per day, caused by food deliveries at home. This is her paradise. The government, consumers, brands, operators and recyclers, and producer responsibility organization will have to work together to implement EPR and a revitalized waste management system. As the Philippines juggles its pandemic response with the surge of single-use plastics, Congress approved House Bill No. When living becomes a matter of surviving the day-to-day, it is harder to police the way people buy basic necessities. The bill is currently pending at the committee level in the Senate. These efforts should ensure that "materials are used as long as possible in our society.". Even approaching the zero waste," he emphasized. We cant just use a lot of plastic, then export it and think that it will disappear, the EU ambassador to the Philippines, Franz Jessen, told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay last January 24. By law, LGUs are primarily responsible for drafting policies, collecting, recycling, and composting of waste, as well as maintaining materials recovery facilities and sanitary landfills. "[Companies] will either directly collect and treat their post-consumer packaging waste, or pay a waste management operator to do so," the WWF Philippines said in the report they completed last August. The plastic waste problem in Manila Bay is not an isolated case, the Philippines is the worlds 3rd largest marine pollutant only behind China and Indonesia. The country is one of the worlds top three worst offenders of plastic pollution. It will also divert government funds from waste management and realign them to other equally important social services such as education and health. When they do, they break up into smaller pieces resulting in microplastics. Previous studies have ranked the Philippines as the third biggest ocean polluter of plastic, and many Filipinos have declared that stances on the issue will influence their vote in the upcoming senatorial elections. While medical wastes are necessities amid the pandemic and are disposed of differently, most face masks used by the public are not disposed of properly and add to the world's already accumulating waste. Dudez Perez loves to stimulate minds. 1. Companies are also required to coordinate with each other and with the government to properly dispose of their waste. The implications of high BPA in the human body can result in health problems such as endocrine disorders like male and female infertility and cancer. For Rodriguez, a total ban on plastics in the Philippines is not possible "as it will have a negative impact on ordinary Filipinos," he told Rappler. A lot of proposals have been made to tackle the country's waste problem. Jacob Duer of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Single-use plastics, still the environment's number 1 enemy, stop the flow ofplasticinto nature by 2030, Sachet away: What's lacking in our plastic laws? Back in the 90s, a series of infomercials played on Filipino television. Eco Warrior Princess uses affiliate links. Philippines plastic pollution epidemic The United Nations called this problem one of the great environmental challenges of all time. This should be an enormous source of national embarrassment for us Filipinos, but this problem is Masks and gloves are disposed of after one use, and face shields are completely made from plastic. What is plastic waste? ", For advocates, EPR may pave the way for a more sustainable economy that breaks away from the current linear economy where we just buy, consume, and dump. You can actually see a thick layer of garbage floating in the waterways as if it were some island. Most local government units (LGUs) have not yet institutionalized recycling practices at the ground level. There's little awareness of what happens after disposal and where all the trash ends up. In the Philippines, theres a long way to go yet since poor waste management services and poverty remain major barriers to recycling and environmental initiatives, but we wont stop pushing for a cleaner, greener environment. Take These Sustainable Actions Today, Individuals in the Developed World Consume More of the Earths Resources. If she isn't out there writing thought-provoking and challenging pieces, she'd translate her thoughts into photography. The JCPRA is closely working with 5 government ministries on environment, trade, finance, welfare, and agriculture. What comes with the flood that enters millions of homes? The Philippines is among the countries contributing to 60% of the marine debris discarded in our oceans. This year, incidentally, the EU will launch a project in East and Southeast Asia to address these regions growing problems with plastic waste and marine litter. A plan to fix the Philippines' plastic problem. And because people cannot go outside, basic necessities such as food, groceries, and household supplies are delivered to homes most of them in plastic packaging. This waste reduction and management tool is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a scheme that reimagines the life cycle of products, ensuring that brands and manufacturers take responsibility for everything they manufacture and sell. Instead of just churning out products that would soon become waste, companies are given the extended responsibility to dispose of and recycle their products post-consumption. Unfortunately, it wasnt enough to end it. 10 Organic Bed Sheets and Bedding Brands For Sustainable Shoppers (and Sleepers!) His bill seeks to make companies accountable, pushed by what Rodriguez calls the "producer pays" principle. Filipino culture and consumer habits play a role in why the country produces so much waste, particularly plastic. However, the nation-wide law against the use of single-use plastic such as plastic bags is still pending which is why rates of use is high in the Philippines. Senator Cynthia Villar authored Senate Bill No. Getting rid of your stuff makes things go away for you, but not for the planet. The Philippines annually contributes nearly two million tonnes of mismanaged waste plastic to the global ocean plastic problem. We cant Marie Kondo our way out of the worlds stuff. When not properly disposed, they dont just end up in a landfill. Much has been said about the tingi (retail) culture, where Filipinos buy products in single-use packages a practice exacerbated by poor living conditions and limited household budget. But it wasnt always that way. Is Boxed Water Really Better Than Bottled Water? The higher the volume of packaging the companies put out, the higher the fee they will have to pay. The Philippines recycling industry has emerged alongside a history of illegal waste dumping by regional powers. EPR SETUP. Around three million diapers are discarded in the Philippines daily, or 1.1 billion diapers annually. When we talk about solving the problem of plastic waste, the conversation often eases toward consuming zero-waste Sign up for our weekly newsletter and receive our free sustainable lifestyle guide when you do. Children play on the shore of Manila Bay in the Philippines, which is polluted by plastic waste. A recent study commissioned by conservation organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines proposed to the Philippine government and producers a waste reduction and management scheme that would oblige companies to take more responsibility for the products they put out on the market. In December 1999, Japan took back 122 containers of hazardous trash only after they had spent five months idling in the country, with the Keiz Obuchi administration admitting full responsibility and holding the company which exported the waste accountable. Garbage dumping is still common practice, particularly among those living along the river slums. We did, however, build our own MRF (more of a community recycling centre in UK terms) at MCPs base to improve the management of the waste we collected. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Public transportation and business establishments use plastic dividers to ensure safety and continue operations. 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