The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is urging the public to be part of the solution to take action to achieve zero waste.
The agency through its Environmental Management Bureau called on the people that it is high time to take responsibility and do their “best to properly dispose waste with zero waste living—reuse, reduce, recycle—on top of everyone’s mindset.”
The DENR said each person’s action matters as the country is already suffering from garbage overload, lack of land to serve as sanitary landfills and even the mismanagement of solid waste disposal systems.
The bureau said it is vital that households and communities have zero waste strategies in place, especially since Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 has been in effect for 22 years now.
It expressed confidence the newly enacted Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 or RA 11898 would remarkably aid in addressing the country’s solid waste and plastic pollution problems.
The EPR Act that lapsed into law on July 30, 2022 mandates enterprises to establish EPR programs that focus on waste reduction, recovery, and recycling of plastic packaging. It also promotes the development of environment-friendly products that advocate sustainable= consumption and production, circular economy, and full responsibility
throughout the life cycle of products.
In January, DENR spearheaded several activities for the dual celebration of National Zero Waste Month with the theme “Stepping Up Solid Waste Management through Efficient Extended Producers’ Responsibility,” and the 22nd anniversary of the signing of RA 9003.
On Feb. 9-10, the EMB will host a conference of various stakeholders for sharing of initiatives toward an efficient EPR and a ceremonial commitment of the industry sector to EPR compliance and submission to the EPR program. Rio N. Araja
