Quisumbing plastic bag bill passes final reading

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of Lapu-Lapu City and Consolacion town have applauded the approval on third and final reading by the House of Representatives the measure which regulates the use of plastic bags and establishes a recovery system to reduce its volume in the environment, landfills, and waterways.

House Bill 4840, to be known as the Plastic Bag Regulation Act of 2011, requires operators of commercial establishments to provide biodegradable plastic bags to customers and to establish an in-store recovery program that will give customers the opportunity to return used plastic bags to establishments where the plastic bags originated.

Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Efren Herrera, said regulating the use of plastic bags is one way of minimizing if not totally solving the drainage problem.

Herrera said reports point to plastic bags as the leading cause of clogged up canals especially in urban areas.

People have the habit of disposing of plastic bags after use just anywhere, he said. These particular bags can be seen in vacant lots in the city.

In Consolacion town, Mayor Teresa Alegado said the town also faces the same problem because of the bags.

House Bill 4840 also requires that a logo showing it is a biodegradable plastic or the words saying "Please return to any store for recycling" be printed or displayed on the plastic bag.

The bill mandates the placement of a plastic bag recovery bin at each store or cluster of stores, which shall be visible and accessible to customers.

Local government units are given the primary responsibility to decrease the percentage of plastic bag wastes produced within their respective territorial jurisdiction.

They shall be tasked to collect, recycle, and dispose of all plastic bags recovered by the stores.