Single-use plastics banned in all gov't offices —DENR

The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said an inter-agency commission has approved a resolution banning “unnecessary” single-use plastics in all government offices.

Chaired by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) directs the DENR to prepare and implement the ban under Resolution No. 1363 Series of 2020.

It covers national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and all other government-controlled offices, DENR said in a statement.

“The NSWMC resolution is a major step to curb the use of single-use plastic items that pollute our waterways, kill marine life and contribute to our country’s increasing solid waste,” Cimatu said.

Prohibited single-use plastics are  cups less than 0.2 millimeter in thickness, drinking straws, coffee stirrers, spoons, forks, knives, “labo” and sando bags lower than 15 microns.

Specific guidelines will be formulated for the plastics ban implementation, which will be part of the government’s solid waste avoidance and minimization strategy, according to Cimatu.

DENR Undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda explained that the commission initially includes only eight items of plastic, considering they can be replaced with alternatives.

“We can only ban those that have available alternatives,” said Antiporda, who is also the alternate NSWMC chair.

The NSWMC is composed of the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Trade and Industry.

Other members are League of Cities of the Philippines, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and representatives from the recycling and manufacturing/packaging sectors, DENR said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News