After passing the Smoke-free ordinance, the City of Dumaguete has again enacted an environment-friendly law that makes Dumaguete a plastic-free City.
Last Tuesday, Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations for City Ordinance No. 231, Series of 2010.
The Ordinance regulates the use of packaging materials made of plastic and polystyrene (styrofoam) to help avert potential health problems and clogging in the city’s canals, creeks, rivers and other waterways.
The law prohibits the sale of plastic bags to be used as secondary packaging material on wet goods or as packaging material on dry goods.
It also prohibits the use of polystyrene, commonly known as “styrofoam,” and prohibits the collection of plastic waste materials along with non-biodegradable waste.
Under the ordinance, plastic waste materials will be cleaned and dried prior to surrender to their respective barangays for proper disposal.
A full scale information, education and communication campaign shall be conducted prior to the full execution of City Ordinance 231 by August 28.
Using mixed media, the City will promote the use of alternative packaging materials such as bayong or baluyot, katsa and other reusable and/or biodegradable packaging materials.
Various strategies will also be explored, adopted and promoted so as to effectively reduce, re-use and recycle plastics from different sectors provided that these plans are in consonance with the generally accepted environmental safety standards. (PNA/Judy Flores Partlow)
