EcoWaste demands candidates removal of campaign materials

The EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, yesterday
called on all barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates in the
country’s 42,025 barangays to properly dispose their campaign
materials before they degenerate into health and environmental
hazards.

Despite the limited campaign period of only 10 days, barangay and SK
bets spents tons of paper and plastic materials — from leaflets,
stickers, posters, streamers, buntings to sample ballots — to reach
out and win over their grassroots constituents, the EcoWaste Coalition
noted.

“Win or lose, we appeal to polls’ candidates to start removing all
banners, posters and other campaign materials from around their
communities,” said Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition president.

“Sooner or later, these materials will degenerate into health and
environmental hazards, turning into garbage, blocking storm drains or
falling onto innocent motorists or pedestrians,” he said.

The EcoWaste Coalition specifically advised incoming barangay chairmen
to lead their communities on clean-up drive.

The barangay chief executive is mandated under Republic Act 7160, or
the Local Government Code, to enforce laws and regulations regarding
to pollution control and environmental protection.

Under RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the
chairman is tasked to head the Barangay Solid Waste Management
Committee, which is responsible for drawing up and implementing a
waste plan, including the establishment of materials recovery facility
to promote recycling.

Banners and posters made of tarpaulin, for instance, can be sewn into
reusable bags and other functional items such as aprons, stuff
organizers and as containers for common household and workplace
recyclables such as papers, bottles, cans and plastics. Jason Faustino

Posted in: Removal of campaign materials