QUEZON CITY, Feb. 3 The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has given recognition to the agency s environmental partners for their valuable contributions to help carry out the closure of open dumpsites and to prevent the dumping of waste in Manila Bay.
Secretary Roy A. Cimatu handed over the awards and certificates of recognition to government agencies, a non-government organization, and a private company for their support to the strengthened solid waste management campaign of the DENR during the celebration of the 20th year of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and culmination of Zero Waste Month on January 26.
Pollution Prevention Groups Press Government to Ban Non-Environmentally Acceptable Products and Packaging
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1 February 2021, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition and Oceana Philippines urged the national government to roll out a long-overdue policy that could help the country leapfrog to a zero waste and toxic-free circular economy.
The groups specifically asked the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), an inter-agency body under the Office of the President, to release the list of non-environmentally acceptable products (NEAP) for prohibition as required under Section 29 of R.A. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. The commission should have prepared the said list one year after R.A. 9003 took effect in 2001.
Published February 1, 2021, 1:11 PM
Two environmental groups called on the government Monday to implement a “long overdue” policy that could help propel the country into a zero-waste and toxic-free circular economy.
The EcoWaste Coalition and Oceana Philippines asked the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) to release the list of non-environmentally acceptable products (NEAPs) for prohibition as required under Section 29 of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (R.A. 9003).
In a statement, the environmental groups said list has long been overdue and should have been released by the commission, a year after the R.A. No. 9003 took effect in 2001.
“After two decades, the NSWMC has yet to produce the list of NEAP for phase-out and eventual elimination,” said EcoWaste Coalition National Coordinator Aileen Lucero
Oceana Philippines (Twitter)
“#DiNaSingle enterprises composed of Akbayanihan, Back to Basics, Eco Shift, Katha, Lush, and Balay Qubo and The Bamboo Company avoided a total of 1,055,098 single-use plastic in November to December 2020,” a statement from Oceana bared Thursday.
Oceana, in partnership with these companies, installed a monitor in their respective stores–online or otherwise–to count the number of plastic-free products created and sold to their customers.
“We are elated that our #DiNaSingle partners persevere in mainstreaming plastic-free alternatives and minimize packaging to reduce waste even without receiving incentives from the government. They are displaying ethical leadership in showing that business can still run without adding to the pervasive plastic litter that the world and our oceans face,” Oceana Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos said.
QUEZON CITY, Jan. 28 The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), recently held a nationwide public consultation with various stakeholders to identify single-use plastic items that will be included in the list of non-environmentally acceptable products and packaging materials or NEAP.
The NSWMC, chaired by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, organized the virtual consultation, last January 22 which was participated in by 169 representatives from local government units, private sector, and key stakeholders from civil society groups, including Ecowaste Coalition and Oceana Philippines.
DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units (LGUs) Concerns and NSWMC Alternate Chair Benny D. Antiporda said conducting the consultation is a key moment on our work on NEAP, noting that coming up with the list of NEAP is anticipated.