Philippines green group urges ban on use of plastic bags

Echoes UN call to reverse marine pollution
Alcuin Papa, Philippine Daily Inquirer 11 Jun 09;

MANILA, Philippines—Local waste and pollution watchdog EcoWaste Coalition on Wednesday called on the government to heed the recent call of the United Nations to ban plastic bags which contribute to the pollution of our seas and the death of marine life.

Manny Calonzo, president of the EcoWaste Coalition, said it was time for the public and the government to take seriously the point made by Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) during World Oceans Day, that “single-use plastic bags that choke marine life should be banned or phased out rapidly everywhere." Steiner also stressed that “there is simply zero justification for manufacturing them any more, anywhere."

“We urge the government to impose an immediate phase-out on single-use plastic bags to protect the oceans and spur lifestyle change. We are one with UNEP and the ocean conservation groups in pressing for bold global and local action to save our marine ecosystems from further destruction due to plastic bags, cigarette butts and other garbage,” Calonzo said.

He added that they would mobilize concerned groups and individuals to urge the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to act on the UNEP’s plea.

“We will launch a signature drive that will petition the government to unilaterally ban plastic bags, promote ecological substitutes and practices, and incorporate marine litter prevention and reduction in the national solid waste management strategy,” Rei Panaligan, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, said.

Last June 8, the UNEP and the Ocean Conservancy released the report “Marine Litter: A Global Challenge,” which drew attention to the “environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problem” caused by marine litter.

The report's findings indicate that despite several international, regional and national efforts to reverse marine pollution, alarming quantities of rubbish thrown out to sea continue to endanger people's safety and health, entrap wildlife, damage nautical equipment and destroy coastal areas around the world.

The major land-based sources of marine litter, according to the report, include wastes from dumpsites located on the coast or banks of rivers; rivers and floodwaters; industrial outfalls; discharge from storm water drains; untreated municipal sewerage; littering of beaches and coastal picnic and recreation areas; tourism and recreational use of the coasts; fishing industry activities; ship-breaking yards; and natural storm related events.

The major sea-based sources of marine litter include shipping (merchant, public transport, pleasure, naval and research vessels) and fishing (vessels, angling and fish farming) activities; offshore mining and extraction (vessels, and oil and gas platforms); legal and illegal dumping at sea; abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear; and natural disasters.

Last Monday, the EcoWaste Coalition proposed to the National Solid Waste Management Commission the phase out and ban single-use plastic products and packaging that have low or non-existing recycling levels.

The coalition has been actively campaigning for the use of “bayong” (native woven bag) and other reusable alternatives to replace disposable bags.

“We now know how the pervasive plastic pollution is killing or maiming the wildlife, ruining the beaches and threatening the livelihood of our fishers and coastal communities. The time for decisive and vigorous action is now,” the coalition said.