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Makati City deploys 45 monitoring teams on use of plastic


As it starts enforcing a stricter anti-plastics ordinance this week, Makati City is deploying 45 teams from the Plastic Monitoring Task Force (PMTF) to inspect 738 establishments using plastic packaging. The city government said the teams will determine the establishments' inventory of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials. Department of Environmental Services (DES) chief Danilo Villas said each team will have five members representing the Makati Health Department Sanitation Division, Business Permits Office, Makati Action Center, Liga ng mga Barangay, and DES. He said 19 teams have been assigned to cover establishments in District I, six teams in District 2, and 20 teams in the six villages. "Their initial target of 738 establishments comprises 209 food establishments and 529 retail outlets.  The teams will inspect nine food and 101 retail stores in District I, 71 food and 237 retail outlets in District II, and 129 food and 196 retail outlets in the villages and Central Business District," the city government said. Data from the city Business Permits Office show a total of 1,674 food establishments and 5,694 retail outlets in Makati. The inventories will be the basis for subsequent evaluations of their compliance with the Solid Waste Management Code of Makati. Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said that under City Ordinance 2003-095, food and retail establishments are given nine years to dispose of all their stocks of plastics, Styrofoam and similar materials, and replace them with environment-friendly materials. “We are now on the ninth year of implementing the ordinance, so we believe we have given establishments enough time to prepare for the full phase-out being required of them.  The new Executive Order I issued recently has, in fact, extended the deadline to June 20, 2013,” Binay said. He also called on the owners of concerned establishments to make a serious effort to come up with environment-friendly substitutes for the packaging of their products. This will help the government in the fight against global warming, he said. Also, Binay ordered the monitoring teams to immediately obtain the current stocks inventory of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials of establishments. He said the data will serve as the basis for evaluating compliance with the disposal order, which will be made through quarterly inspections conducted by the monitoring teams. No compliance Binay issued the order after learning from the DES that no establishment has complied with the required quarterly submission of a stock inventory report on non-biodegradable materials such as thin film, single-use and carry-out plastic bags. The PMTF has been designated to monitor the compliance of all supermarkets, public markets, shopping malls/department stores, restaurants, fast food chains, convenience stores, canteens, eateries and similar establishments to the ordinance. Under the implementing rules and regulations of the “Use of Environment-Friendly Materials,” these establishments are prohibited from selling, using or distributing plastic bags for use as primary or secondary packaging on dry goods, or as secondary packaging for wet goods. The sale, use or distribution of Styrofoam (Polystyrene) and other materials with non-biodegradable components that are being used as containers for food, drinks, dining utensils and beverages is also strictly prohibited. Full effect in 2013 Once the ban takes effect in June next year, the management will be required to provide, for free or for a fee, paper bags, cloth bags, basket/woven bags made from biodegradable packaging materials, woven native bags and other similar materials in lieu of plastic shopping bags. Earlier, Binay issued a new EO to amend the initial EO issued last December, which makes specific distinction between “primary” and “secondary” packaging materials and exempts certain products from the plastic ban will take effect next week. Primary packaging materials are defined as “first level product packaging that contains the item sold,” which are used for wet produce, snack foods, frozen foods, and hardware. Secondary packaging materials are “those used to provide support for wet goods with primary packaging,” usually for the convenience of the handlers or customers. Products exempted from the order are plastic bottled products like bottled water, ice tea, cooking oil, alcohol, mayonnaise, jelly, peanut butter, and coco jam. Also included in the exemption are plastic sachet products like shampoo and conditioner, soap/detergent, noodles; cosmetics; cigarette case; plastic bags used as primary packaging on wet goods with thickness of 15 microns above.   Covered establishments are also required to place a clearly marked “Plastic Bag Recovery Bin” at entrances and exits that are visible and accessible, for the purpose of collecting, recycling and disposal of plastic bags. Barangay Halls are likewise required to have the same clearly marked recovery bins that will serve as drop-off points to collect plastic bags from barangay residents. DES will coordinate with reputable recyclers/organized junk-shop operators for the proper collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of plastic bags dropped in the said bins. — LBG, GMA news

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