National and Local Candidates Urged to Embrace Zero Waste in Their Campaigns and Platforms (2nd Zero Waste Fair Held in Luneta to Push for Increased Waste Prevention and Reduction Efforts)
Environmental and health advocates today pushed candidates for the upcoming general elections to put sustainable waste management solutions on top of their electoral platforms and to walk their talk by running a trash-less campaign.
At the opening of the two-day 2nd Zero Waste Fair at Rizal Park,
public interest groups expressed the need for the country's politicos to
step out of the usual "hakot-tambak-sunog" approach to managing
garbage and to support Zero Waste solutions to tackle pollution and build local
economies.
"We want those seeking elective posts to commit to solving our
mounting garbage problems through the adoption, promotion and financing of Zero
Waste strategies that will eliminate the pressure to build costly
incinerators and landfills," said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator, EcoWaste
Coalition.
As the campaign period for the presidential, vice-presidential, senatorial and
congressional posts, as well as for party list representatives, is about to
start on February 9, the groups also called on all candidates to shun wasteful
election-related activities.
"We want all candidates and their supporters to run their campaigns in a
manner that will not harm the environment with wastes and toxics.
Environmental and climate protection must take center stage in the 2016
polls," said Sonia Mendoza, Chairman, Mother Earth Foundation
Zero Waste strategies, including separating discards at source, reusing,
recycling and composting, have been proven effective in reducing garbage volume
and toxicity and in conserving energy and resources, while creating decent jobs
and livelihoods for families and communities.
The groups cited studies in US indicating that recycling and composting create
10 to 20 times as many jobs as incinerators and landfills, and conserve 3 to 5
times the energy that incinerators waste. In terms of toxic emissions,
the groups said that incinerators emit more carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour
than coal-fired power plants, and that they emit up to 14 times more mercury.
The 2nd Zero Waste Fair is a focal point of this year's celebration of January
as Zero Waste Month, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation (PP) No. 760,
signed by President Benigno Aquino III on 5 May 2014.
According to PP
No. 760, "Zero waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and
visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to
emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed
to become resources for others to use."
The Zero Waste Fair is organized by the EcoWaste Coalition, Global
Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Health
Care Without Harm Asia and Mother Earth Foundation in partnership with the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Metro Manila Development
Authority, National Park Development Committee and the National Solid Waste
Management Commission.
In line with the theme"Posible ang Zero Waste, Kaya Nating Gawin!"
(Zero Waste is Possible, We Can Do It!), civil society and local government participants organized booths
showcasing various waste prevention and reduction initiatives.
Among the governmental participants were Bacoor and Muntinlupa Cities, and the
MMDA 2014 Barangay Power winners for the best solid waste management system
from Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon and Taguig Cities.
Civil
society participants included the Bituen Arts,
Culture, Events and Communications Organization; Cycling Advocates; Environmental
Resource Management Center; Junk Not; Médecins du
Monde; Tzu Chi Foundation and the Zero Waste Recycling Movement of
the Philippines.
Reference:
http://www.emb.gov.ph/portal/nswmc/resources.aspx
www.no-burn.org/downloads/Resources%20up%20in%20Flames.pdf
Morris,
Jeffrey, Comparative LCAs for curbside recycling versus for curbside recycling
versus either landfilling or incineration with energy recovery, International
landfilling or incineration with energy recovery, International Journal of
Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 10 4 (2005) 273 Life Cycle Assessment 10 4
(2005) 273 -284
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