The Baguio local government has laid the groundwork for “strict implementation” of the city’s plastic ban in the public market, set to begin next week.
The city has partnered up with the Baguio Market Vendors Multipurpose Cooperative (BAMARVEMPCO) to set up collection areas for the planned donation drive of reusable containers such as second-hand eco-bags.
Additionally, the BAMARVEMPCO has committed to buying all sorts of plastic, including single-use plastic, tetra packs, plastic bottles, containers, and wrappers by the kilo within the market in order to ensure that the waste can be collected and possibly made useful.
Currently, the city is looking to shore up its implementation of its single-use plastic ban, which was enacted years ago but has yet to see strict execution and regular monitoring.
However, Baguio is still working on additional legislation which would address the plastic problem in the city at a larger-scale manufacturing level, but Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong has assured that the city is looking to nip the problem through talks with manufacturers.
In addition to the environmental damage caused by improperly-disposed and oversaturated plastic waste, the city was also recently caught up in a flooding incident in City Camp Lagoon, which was largely attributed to plastic waste clogging up the drainage system.
Plastic is also a significant portion of the city’s waste, which runs the city at least P200 million annually for disposal.
