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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solid waste management body told to ramp up NEAP listing

Solid waste management body told to ramp up NEAP listing

Published Feb 3, 2021 03:35 pm

What about other harmful single-use plastics?

This was the EcoWaste Coalition's question to the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) Wednesday, a day after the latter placed plastic soft drinks straws and coffee stirrers to the list of non-environmentally acceptable products (NEAP).

EcoWaste Coalition (FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

"While we welcome the phase-out and eventual ban on plastic straws and coffee stirrers, the (NSWMC) needs to act fast in listing other SUPs, particularly plastic bags and sachets which are massively produced, consumed, and disposed of, as NEAP to be scheduled for prohibition," said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, in a statement.

"The inclusion of all SUPs on the NEAP list, along with other products and packaging materials containing toxic additives that can harm human health and the environment, should be a top priority for the NSWMC in order to drastically reduce the volume and toxicity of residual garbage that we cannot reuse or recycle and only exacerbate environmental pollution," she reckoned.

In a separate statement Wednesday, Marine protection group Oceana Philippines said various pro-environment organizations have strongly recommend the inclusion of the following in the NEAPP list: plastic labo; plastic bags including oxo-degradable plastics; plastic cutleries such as spoon, fork, knives; plastic bottles; plastic cups and plates; thin plastic take-out containers; styrofoam or polystyrene food containers; and sachet, packaging, or products that are multilayered with other materials.

The prohibition on NEAPs and packaging materials, the EcoWaste Coalition insisted, will have a positive influence in changing production and consumption patterns toward a zero waste and toxic-free circular economy.

The NSWMC en banc on Tuesday voted 11-3 (yes-no) to include plastic soft drinks straws and plastic coffee stirrers in the NEAP list. This paves the way for the items' phase out as part of the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The NEAP list is essential in enforcing the 20-year-old law since it is a black-and-white guide on what products are allowable in the market.

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