As a way to address wastes problem of the city
TACLOBAN CITY- An environment group based this city is calling the public to practice proper waste disposal and join in their campaign on single use plastic.
This call of the Mother Earth Foundation came amid the declaration of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) that the lifespan of the city’s sanitary landfill would be just three years instead of its original 10 years of usage.
The city’s sanitary landfill begun its operation six months ago and is located in Barangay San Roque, a village located on the northern part of the city and is more than 10 kms away from the city proper.
Elizabeth Biagcong, project officer of the Mother Earth Foundation, said that one way of helping in curbing the city’s wastes is for the public to observe proper waste disposal and not just throw their garbage anywhere.
The group, together with other environment groups Waste 360, and TOES (Tender Foot Organization of Enthusiastic Striders) conducted clean-up drive Saturday (Sept.7) along the stretch of Magsaysay Boulevard.
During their clean-up drive, which lasted for just two hours, the groups collected more than 40 sacks of wastes, mostly plastic materials, Biagcong, speaking during the weekly media forum ‘Express it at the Park’ held at the Leyte Park Resort Hotel, this city, said.
It was learned that if wastes are properly disposed by the residents of this city, its daily waste collection could drastically reduce.
Biagcong said that thus, the lifespan of the city’s sanitary landfill could really be used up to 10 years or even more.
According to her, of the city’s 110 tons per day of wastes, only 40 percent of them should be deposited to the city’s sanitary landfill.
At present, all wastes collected go straight to the sanitary landfill, shortening its load capacity in the process.
Councilor Aimee Grafil, who chairs the committee on environmental protection and solid waste management, meantime, said that the city government is also working on this issue.
In fact, she said, they are moving for the city to enforce a single use plastic.
Grafil said that the Sangguniang Panglungsod is now in the process of enacting such an ordinance which she hopes would be approved before the year is over.
“If this policy is being practiced in other areas, why we cannot do the same here in Tacloban City,” the lady councilor said, referring on their proposal to ban single use plastic.
According to her, under the proposed ordinance, violators, both individual and companies or establishments, faces a penalty or even imprisonment.
Grafil also issues an appeal for business establishments in the city to start using paper or eco bags as their way in helping address the city’s growing waste problem.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
