EDITORIAL- Breaking bad habits

During Christmas, one of the most popular venues for family outings is Rizal Park in Manila. And a common aftermath of such gatherings is the mountain of garbage left in the park.

So this year before Christmas, environmental groups together with the Manila city government and the National Parks Development Committee reminded people to take their garbage with them and dispose of the trash properly.

Typhoon Ursula dumped heavy rains in Metro Manila on Christmas Day, and by afternoon, the crowds had disappeared from Rizal Park. And yet Manila city officials reported that from Christmas Eve until yesterday morning, at least 60 metric tons of garbage were hauled from the park, with the bulk of 51 tons piling up from noon of Dec. 25.

City officials said this was way above the volume of garbage collected last year from the park during the same period. And the city is expecting more trash during the New Year’s revelry.

This highlights one of the biggest factors behind the garbage problem in the country: bad habits. Public awareness of the importance of proper waste disposal is abysmal.

Filipinos generally keep their homes clean, but think nothing of discarding trash everywhere else. This not-in-my-backyard mindset is often compounded by the lack of garbage receptacles in public places as well as inefficient garbage collection systems.

Garbage is dumped anywhere, including in waterways, with the litterbugs thinking the trash would be washed away, never mind where, as long as it is far from their homes. The filthy habits cover all types of solid garbage – not just plastic but also metal, glass, paper, wood and pathological waste.

Those tasked to clean up Manila Bay have lamented that despite all their earnest efforts in recent months, tons of garbage continue to turn up in the water. Solid waste also continues to clutter street drains, aggravating flooding.

Can filthy habits be broken? New Year’s resolutions won’t be enough. The importance of proper garbage disposal must be inculcated in Filipinos at a young age, in schools and perhaps in community-based programs. This must be complemented by efficient waste management by the government as well as proper enforcement of laws against littering and improper waste disposal. With sustained effort on multiple fronts, it is possible to break bad habits.