Ecowaste Coalition tells poll winners to shun 'thank you' tarps

Zero-Waste advocates Ecowaste Coalition urged winners of the 2025 midterm polls to refrain from using tarpaulins to thank their supporters.

In a statement on Wednesday, the group said that the call came after they observed several discarded plastic campaign tarpaulins pending disposal in a site inspection with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Payatas, Quezon City.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said that election-related trash in Metro Manila alone added up to 64.5 tons, some of which were non-biodegradable with limited reusability and recyclability.

“The post-election campaign clean-up has yet to be completed and we already see newly-installed ones from candidates thanking their constituents for their trust and support… We might see more ‘thank you’ tarpaulins on utility poles and on trees in the coming weeks as poll winners prepare to assume their posts on June 30,” said Zero-Waste campaigner Cris Luague.

“As we come to terms with the environmental impact of the last electoral exercise, we ask all poll winners to do away with the customary hanging of ‘thank you’ tarpaulins, and express their gratitude to the voters in a way that will not cause further stress and harm to Mother Earth… We need not contribute further to the toxic plastic and microplastic pollution facing our society,” he added.

The coalition said toxicity caused by tarpaulins, which were made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and contained toxic additives like plasticizers and stabilizers, would cause great damage to the environment.

The winners of the election were encouraged to express their gratitude through other environmentally-friendly means instead such as e-thank you greetings, tree-planting, community clean-up drives, food drives for waste and sanitation workers, Brigada Eskwelas, provision of back-to-school essentials, provision of segregated waste bins, community art projects, and free medical and public services.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News