Total plastic ban starts August

THE TOTAL ban on the use of plastic bags and styrofoam will take effect three months after its initial implementation this month.

This was disclosed by City Environment and Parks Manage-

ment Office Head Cordelia Lacsamana in the weekly 'Talakayan sa Environment Code' saying based on the explanation given by City Councilor Peter Fianza, the objective of the ordinance is going towards the total ban on the use of plastic bags and styrofoam products.

"One of the grey areas which came out during the solutions forum is on the bringing of plastic bags to the market or malls, but based on the ordinance, whatever kind of plastic bags given by the retailers to the consumers will not be allowed as of the moment," Lacsamana said.

The drafting of the code started in April 2012 which compiled existing environmentrelated ordinances enacted by the City Council related to the conservation, protection, enhancement, utilization and rehabilitation of the city’s environment including the management and administration of its natural resources.

Ordinance No. 3517 prohibits business establishments from providing any customer any plastic bag or polystyrene foam container for goods or items purchased or serving food or drink, take out or dine in to customers in polystyrene containers or in plastic bags and will cover all business activities and establishments in the city including city government schools and offices.

"The ordinance however provides for our citizens a three month transition period starting in its implementation this month to give time for our citizens to undergo a behavioral change from the use of plastic bags and styrofoam products to paper bags," the CEPMO Head stated.

During Lacsamana's tenure as head of the Solid Waste Management in the city until 2012, it estimated half of the city’s solid waste consisted of plastic materials.

One of the possible solutions for the repurposing of plastic bottles and plastic bags is the acquisition of plastic moulding machines which can create plastic chairs and tables.

"Of course for us here in the City of Baguio, we have to consider that technology is going to be expensive but we have to come up with solutions through networking with the popular noontime show who continues to collect plastic bottle containers which are repurposed to become plastic furnitures and distributed to public schools in the country," Lacsamana added.