The Metro Manila Development Authority has begun removing campaign posters and other election paraphernalia used by candidates in the May 9 polls.
So far, according to MMDA Metro Parkway Cleaning Group chief Francis Martinez, his team composed of 350 personnel already collected 313 cubic meters of election materials equivalent to 87 tons. He said the agency expected 100 truckloads of election materials at the end of MMDA’s operation on May 30.
Martinez also noted that the number of removed election materials has increased this year compared to 2013.
“In 2013, we were able to collect 83 tons only until the end of May 28, but now, we already have 87 tons and we are not done roving Metro Manila” he said.
Martinez said the City of Manila and Quezon City have the most number of collected materials.
Meanwhile, environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition cautioned the public against the burning of discarded election campaign materials in streets and garbage dumps.
“The open burning of trash, including discarded campaign materials, is punishable by law,” reminded Aileen Lucero, Ecowaste Coalition coordinator.
The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act prohibits the open burning of solid waste and provides for a fine of P300 to P1,000 or imprisonment for one to 15 days, or both.
“The law has banned this old-fashioned form of getting rid of trash because it destroys valuable resources that can be recycled and seriously harms human health and the environment,” Lucero said.
“Open burning emits harmful chemicals into the air we inhale, including particulate matter, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants or POPS that would eventually contaminate the soil, water and even the food we eat,” she explained.
Among these highly toxic pollutants is a class of byproduct chemicals known as dioxins, which can result from the burning of trash containing chlorine, the group said.
Campaign materials such as paper and plastic campaign banners, posters and fliers contain varying amounts of chlorine and other chemicals, coatings and inks, the group pointed out.
Dioxins are dangerous even at very low levels and have been linked to grave health problems like cancer, the group warned.
