Green group alarmed over 'carpet of garbage' in Manila Bay

A pollution watchdog expressed horror at the sight of a “carpet of garbage” floating on Manila Bay in the aftermath of typhoon “Marce.”

The Ecological Waste Coalition (EcoWaste) is calling on the government to strictly enforce an effective ecological solid waste management program.

“The huge amount of garbage washed ashore is a sad indicator of our failure to unlearn the environmentally injurious habit of throwing discards anyplace we please despite laws and ordinances outlawing such (an) ugly practice,” Ecowaste’s Ben Galindo said.

He also said “almost everything now is packed in disposable plastic, (which) exacerbates the trashing of Manila Bay… This ever-present packing material is unintentionally or knowingly discarded in streets, storm sewers, esteros, rivers, and illegal dumps.”

EcoWaste president Manny Calonzo said the government, specifically the National Solid Waste Management Commission, should pick up the pace in identifying and phasing out products that do not comply with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003).

“Policies and measures may include promoting and providing incentives for the use of eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags, phasing out certain type and use of plastics, and imposing environmental levy on plastic bags,” he added.

In 2006, a ‘waste audit’ conducted by EcoWaste and Greenpeace revealed that plastic discards made up 76 percent of the floating trash found in Manila Bay. Of the rate, 51 percent were plastic sando bags. 

In the same year, a United Nations Environment Program report also disclosed that every square mile of the ocean is littered with 46,000 pieces of floating plastic garbage.