Celebrate the holiday season with less trash, Ecowaste Coalition reminds public

Garbage scattered everywhere at the Luneta Park in Manila were remnants of the celebration of hundreds of people who welcomed Christmas there.

According to Daniel Alejandre, a zero waste campaigner from Ecowaste Coalition in an interview on “Balitanghali”, a lot of trash had to be cleaned after families went to Luneta Park to celebrate the holiday.

He said, “Nanghihinayang tayo ngayon dahil sobra nanaman ang magiging basura natin na itatapon sa mga sanitary landfills. At ito'y naging resulta ng ating kapabayaan sa pag-aaksaya ngayong okasyon. “

Over 40,000 pounds of trash are produced everyday, Alejandre said. On regular day, a person produces  0.2 to 0.4 kilos of trash, which increases to a kilo on  holidays such Christmas. If this continues, landfills will be filled up quickly like what happened to Payatas in Quezon City and Smoky Mountain in Manila. 

Alejandre lamented that some people do not realize the negative impact of the improper disposal of garbage on the environment and on the people's health.  Compounding the problem is the lack of implementation by the local government units of their ordinances on garbage disposal.  He said that the public also have little appreciation for recycling plastics.  All these contribute to the tons of garbage produced every year.

To battle this, Alejandre suggested to incorporate zero waste practice fully into the curriculum of schools so students can practice it in their homes.  —Kaela Malig/ LDF, GMA News