No plastic, styrofoam in Cordova on Wednesdays, Saturdays

CEBU, Philippines —  As an incentive, the Municipality of Cordova will give one kilo of rice for every 100 gram of plastic waste collected as a mechanism to efficiently dispose of plastic waste and prevent them from being littered elsewhere.

This as Cordova Mayor Cesar Suan issued the Implementing Rules and Regulations on no single-use plastics/styrofoam on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Suan, in his six-page IRR that he approved on February 14, 2023, said that these rules shall apply to all persons, natural or juridical, who live and sojourn within the town, including the owners, partners, and corporations who are operating department stores, hotels, restaurants, stalls in the public/private markets, canteens, convenience stores, sari-sari stores, and other similar establishments.

The IRR will take effect on March 1, 2023.

The penalties for violators range from P500 to P2,500 per violation as well as permanent revocation of business permit and no lifting of indefinite closure of business until violator-establishment will pay the corresponding fines.

The IRR added that on Wednesdays and Saturdays, no single-use plastics or styrofoam as packaging except small plastic used as packaging for sauce, plastic used as packaging for ice water and ice candy and plastic cover cap for softdrinks and similar beverages.

However, the use of plastic drinking straws is absolutely prohibited in all stores, restaurants, and other business establishments within the municipality.

It added that all persons who are engaged in the business of selling grocery products, food products, dry or wet goods, feeds, appliances and other commodities shall use alternative packaging made of papers, rattan, net bags, any re-usable packaging/baskets or other biodegradable packaging during the no plastic days.

Likewise, they are encouraged to promote the use of alternative packaging or any other days as an approach of waste avoidance and reduction with the end in view of phasing out single-use plastics. — GMR (FREEMAN)