No Plastic Bag policy

DATELINE: JUNE 28, 2012: Non-biodegradable plastic bags and polystyrene foam as food and beverage containers will no longer be allowed in Davao City starting today. 

The ordinance was passed early this year  in view of Section 7, Article V of the Ordinance 0361 series of 2010 or the Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2009. According to the ordinance, only recyclable, biodegradable, or reusable containers are allowed to be used as food and beverage containers.Polystyrene foam is more commonly referred to as Styrofoam and is widely used as fastfood container.Also, Section 10, Rule VI of the ordinance’s implementing rules and regulations encourages the food and packaging industry to develop a more environmentally friendly container to replace  Those who violate the implementation of the ordinance will face criminal liabilities and penal sanctions.

"No one can avoid criminal prosecution and conviction by claiming unawareness of the provisions of the ordinance, because ignorance of the law excuses no one," Davao councilor Quitain  said.

Muntinlupa City was the first local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila to impose the ban last January 18, 2011. Others followed. Still more are poised to do the same.Posters and banners are everywhere to remind the people not to use the non-biodegradable plastics and styrofore material. 

These are the penalties for use of styrofore and plastic bags:

1) 500 pesos for the first offense
2) 1000 pesos for the second offense
3) 2,500 pesos, 6 months imprisonment and cancellation of business permit for persistent offenser

 

The Federation of Philippine Industries and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry  posited that  the absolute ban on plastic bags and Styrofoam without thorough cost-benefit and life-cycle analysis would in the end prove counterproductive.

 

They  said there is no reason to pit paper against plastic as both should coexist because both are essential. This is why developed countries which have thoroughly studied the pros and cons are taking a balanced approach and leaving consumers to make a choice.

 

Paper requires the cutting of 17 trees to make a ton, the use of one gallon of clean water to make just one paper bag, and excessive use of energy which partly uses oil, the same culprit antiplastic groups claim is the reason they are for banning plastic. There is another unintended or unseen issue arising from the ban: brown or recycled paper bag is not cleared as food-safe here or in developed countries.

 

The group argued that  there was no scientific support for such a ban. But it was populist and therefore politically viable.The ban started from the thinking that plastic is to blame for flooding caused by Storms “Sendong,” “Pedring” and “Ondoy.” There simply was too much water as a result of global warming, for which man is largely to blame.

Critics say Papers are weak and prone to tearing especially when wet – not suitable for wet goods such as fish, meat and fresh veggies. The best option for this is bringing own reusable bag like bayong.  In most groceries, shopping malls and supermarkets  in the United States  – if one have no bag, he need to pay for one. And if he have his own reusable bag, he is entitled for a discount. Hmm.. the scheme sounds good.