DENR launches anti-trash campaign in Bulacan town

BOCAUE, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently launched here two campaign programs to minimize plastic trash clogging the waterways of the province.

Lormelyn Claudio, Environment Management Bureau Central Luzon director, told The STAR that the two environment campaigns dubbed as Adopt an Estero and Refill Revolution aim to educate the public and stakeholders to minimize plastic pollution that is increasingly affecting the environment.

The Adopt the Estero campaign is a collaborative cleaning up waterways by nearby communities, donor partner, local government units and concerned government agencies including the DENR, in response to the Supreme Court order for the cleanup of Manila Bay, Claudio explained.

The waterways in Bulacan, including those in Bocaue, drain into Manila Bay.

On the Refill Revolution, Claudio said that every bottle refilled with liquid products like cooking oil and food condiments would mean one less plastic bottle to be produced as packaging material without compromising price or quality.

The campaign was first launched in Guiguinto town also in Bulacan and reprised in San Fernando, Pampanga. This is the third leg of the campaign, Claudio said, with more to be launched in different towns and cities in Central Luzon in the coming months.

On the other hand, Sen. Joel Villanueva, who was guest speaker at these events, told participants that he has filed Senate Bill 1032 or the Beverage Container Disposal Act that aims to improve the country’s waste disposal management of beverage containers.

Under the bill, the DENR may prescribe to the beverage container agency a management plan for the collection, transport, reuse and recycling of containers.

The bill seeks to further encourage proper disposal of beverage containers among consumers by institutionalizing a refund-deposit mechanism. This mandates the monetary compensation of individuals who will return containers to designated sites like retail stores.

Villanueva acknowledged the need to improve the waste disposal management in the country, noting that excessive production and use of beverage containers can impose environmental and health risks to both humans and animals.