Action steps for litter-free Pilipinas

TO guide authorities -- both national and local -- and the citizens in
preventing floods and problems due to mismanaged trash, concrete
anti-littering and anti-flooding proposals have been advanced by the
EcoWaste Coalition.

The contributors to the proposals were the Alaga Lahat, Ayala
Foundation, Citizens Concerned with Advocating Philippine
Environmental Sustainability, Global Alliance for Incinerator
Alternatives, Greenpeace, Institute for the Development of Educational
and Ecological Alternatives and the Mother Earth Foundation.

Notable among the proposals are:

* Anti-littering, declogging and clean-up activities;

* Monitoring through installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) in
littering hotspots;

* Partnering with informal waste sector for the recovery of recyclables;

* Avoiding plastic bags and other single-use disposables;

* And enforcing ecological solid waste management at all levels.

For the National Government

1. Embark on a nationwide, year-long anti-littering and anti-dumping
drive led by the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC),
chaired by the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.

2. Fund the installation of CCTVs in littering hotspots to identify,
shame and penalize litterbugs and imposing sanction such as community
service (e.g. estero cleanup).

3. Adopt and enforce zero-waste policy nationwide, implementating the
best environmental practices in solid waste management, minus open
dumping, open burning and incineration.

For Local Government Units

1. Launch creative campaigns to rid streets, creeks and rivers of
litter that blights the environment and harm public health.

2. Enjoin government agencies, schools, churches, businesses and civic
groups to promote the anti-littering campaign.

3. Enforce zero littering policy in all outdoor assemblies -- be it
for political, religious, commercial, health and fitness or simply fun
activities. LGUs should strive to make all community fiestas and
festive events zero-waste.

4. Start declogging operations by involving concerned community groups
and residents.

5. Mobilize barangay councils in municipality-wide clean-up drive with
resource retrieval and recycling components.

6. Partner with the informal waste sector for the systematic recovery
of recyclable materials.

7. Comply with the mandatory requirements of RA 6716 by establishing
rainwater collection and harvesting systems.

8. Initiate the transfer of toxic industries, including hazardous
waste treaters, to less flood-prone areas to prevent the dispersal of
harmful substances in case of flooding.

For Households and Individuals

1. Set good examples for others, especially the young children, by
not littering.

2. Discourage other people from littering by politely explaining the
consequences of their actions.

3. Avoid using plastic bags and other single-use disposable items.

4. Separate discards at source, reusing, recycling and composting them.

5. Hold on to your rubbish such as bus tickets, food wrappers and
cigarette filters until you have found a waste bin.

6. Do not throw litter out of cars. Place a litter bag in your
vehicle to collect your litter until a waste bin is available.

7. Do not throw hazardous discards such as mercury-containing lamps
and batteries in regular trash.

8. Do not leave your trash on the roads.

9. For chewing gum consumers: “You chew it, you must bin it.”

10. For smokers: “No butts, bin it.”

11. For pet owners: “Don’t give your dog a bad name, pick up their
waste after them.”

We say: onward litter-free Pilipinas!

Posted in: Anti Littering