Hontiveros seeks ban on single-use straws, stirrers

Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Thursday a bill seeking to prohibit the use of single-use plastic straws and stirrers in restaurants and other establishments.

Under Senate Bill 1866, or The Plastic Straw and Stirrer Ban of 2018, no food service or other establishments that serve beverages shall offer to consumers any single-use beverage straw and stirrer made of plastic or any other non-biodegradable material.

It states that suitable beverage straws, including those prohibited under the Act, may be provided to a person that requires a straw due to a disability or medical condition.

The measure also mandates food service establishments and other service providers occupying fixed spaces, such as sari-sari stores, to prominently display signs informing their customers of their “no plastic straw and stirrer” policy.

Food establishments caught providing plastic straws and stirrers would be penalized P50,000 for a first offense; P80,000 for a second offense; and P150,000 plus the suspension of business permits for a period of one year for the third offense.

"Through this proposed bill, we hope to start a national conversation on the need to reduce plastic pollution in our landfills and the oceans by discouraging people from using single-use plastic materials," Hontiveros said.

She said plastic straws and drink stirrers are considered by environmental advocates as "gateway plastics."

"The measure seeks to effect positive behavioral change among our people. We hope straws and stirrers will become 'gateway plastics' to convince people to shift from using plastic to reusable products. If we can persuade the people of the positive effects of not using plastic straws and stirrers, we can also encourage them not to use other single-use plastics such as bags and bottles," she said.

The senator said those who are not willing to give up the use of straws and stirrers can instead utilize reusable alternatives which are already available in the market.

Data from a United Nations survey showed that five countries are responsible for half the plastic waste that end up in the oceans. The Philippines is one of them. — BM, GMA News