EcoWaste Coalition Calls for Action vs. Plastic Addiction
Quezon City. As the nation observes the Philippine Environment Month, environmentalists belonging to the EcoWaste Coalition yesterday staged an advocacy walk for reusable eco-friendly bags in Quiapo, Manila.
Proudly carrying their bayong and cloth bags, the green activists led by film actor and environmentalist Roy Alvarez, mingled with vendors and buyers, providing them with “Ayaw Ko ng Plastik” leaflets that explain the problems with the obsessive use of plastic bags and the need to switch to reusable ones for the sake of the environment.
Representatives of Buklod Tao, Cavite Green Coalition, Earth Renewal Project, EARTH UST, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm, Krusada para sa Kalikasan, Malayang Sining Community Theater, November 17 Movement, Sagip Pasig Movement, and Sanib Lakas ng Inang Kalikasan joined the advocacy walk.
“Our addiction to plastic bags is already taking a heavy toll on the environment. We see them strewn all over, dirtying our streets, clinging to fences, and polluting our water bodies. Even the sky has not escaped being defiled by buntings made of plastic bags,” said Alvarez, who is also
the vice-president of the EcoWaste Coalition.
A study made by the EcoWaste Coalition and Greenpeace Southeast Asia in 2006 showed that 76% of the floating trash in Manila Bay were mostly synthetic plastic materials, with plastic bags comprising 51%, sachets and junk food wrappers 19%, Styrofoams 5% and hard plastics 1%. The rest were rubber 10% and biodegradable discards 13%.
“Countries all over the world have taken notice of the plastic bag problem, with China enforcing a tough restriction on the free distribution of ultra-thin bags to prevent pollution and save on oil used to manufacture these bags. It’s high time that the Philippines takes action now,” Anne Laracas of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Task Force on Plastics said.
China, beginning June 1 this year, banned the production of plastic bags under 0.025 millimeters thick and their use in shops and supermarkets, imposing a maximum fine of 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) for retailers found violating the ban. The law also requires retailers to charge for other plastic bags not covered by the ban.
Many countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Taiwan, Eritrea, Rwanda, France, Ireland, Italy, Australia and the United States, have imposed national or area-specific bans or restrictions on plastic carry bags, while many others, are mulling similar measures.
EcoWaste Coalition Unit 320, Eagle Court Condominium, Matalino St. Quezon City, Philippines +63 2 9290376 ecowastecoalition@yahoo.com
Proudly carrying their bayong and cloth bags, the green activists led by film actor and environmentalist Roy Alvarez, mingled with vendors and buyers, providing them with “Ayaw Ko ng Plastik” leaflets that explain the problems with the obsessive use of plastic bags and the need to switch to reusable ones for the sake of the environment.Representatives of Buklod Tao, Cavite Green Coalition, Earth Renewal Project, EARTH UST, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm, Krusada para sa Kalikasan, Malayang Sining Community Theater, November 17 Movement, Sagip Pasig Movement, and Sanib Lakas ng Inang Kalikasan joined the advocacy walk.
“Our addiction to plastic bags is already taking a heavy toll on the environment. We see them strewn all over, dirtying our streets, clinging to fences, and polluting our water bodies. Even the sky has not escaped being defiled by buntings made of plastic bags,” said Alvarez, who is also
the vice-president of the EcoWaste Coalition.
A study made by the EcoWaste Coalition and Greenpeace Southeast Asia in 2006 showed that 76% of the floating trash in Manila Bay were mostly synthetic plastic materials, with plastic bags comprising 51%, sachets and junk food wrappers 19%, Styrofoams 5% and hard plastics 1%. The rest were rubber 10% and biodegradable discards 13%.
“Countries all over the world have taken notice of the plastic bag problem, with China enforcing a tough restriction on the free distribution of ultra-thin bags to prevent pollution and save on oil used to manufacture these bags. It’s high time that the Philippines takes action now,” Anne Laracas of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Task Force on Plastics said.
China, beginning June 1 this year, banned the production of plastic bags under 0.025 millimeters thick and their use in shops and supermarkets, imposing a maximum fine of 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) for retailers found violating the ban. The law also requires retailers to charge for other plastic bags not covered by the ban.
Many countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Taiwan, Eritrea, Rwanda, France, Ireland, Italy, Australia and the United States, have imposed national or area-specific bans or restrictions on plastic carry bags, while many others, are mulling similar measures.
EcoWaste Coalition Unit 320, Eagle Court Condominium, Matalino St. Quezon City, Philippines +63 2 9290376 ecowastecoalition@yahoo.com
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