Plastic vs paper

A news item caught my eye recently, airing the “concerns” of the local plastics industry about the delay in the creation of a government agency tasked by the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 to “oversee solid waste segregation and management” and develop a “recycling market.”

I confess to having to rub my eyes before I read the article again. Plastics manufacturers agitating for the setting-up of a government agency regulating waste disposal? Sounds like an oxymoron, right?

Plastics and other plastic products—bags, Styrofoam food and drink containers, drinking straws, food packaging—have been targeted as among the most harmful waste products currently clogging waterways and filling up garbage landfills. The problem is that plastics are non-biodegradable, meaning they will be around for hundreds, maybe thousands, of years, maybe even long after the Earth itself will have crumbled to oblivion.

An obvious step would seem to be to reduce the amount of plastic waste, mainly by banning the use of plastic containers or the development of recycling technology that would encourage their reuse. As indeed many local governments have done.

But the above may simply, in the words of an official of the Philippine Plastics Industry Association, have no “scientific backing.” And this may be why the group is calling for the organization of the National Ecology Center which, they say, could provide “the scientific support for measures to keep cities and municipalities clean and environmentally friendly in terms of waste management.”

I know, it sounds like the hounds of hell singing the heavenly chorus. But read on.

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Most interesting was the claim made by plastics manufacturers that the ban now being implemented in cities like Pasig, Antipolo, Marikina and Muntinlupa is “taking its toll on the industry.”

Apparently, the industry is afraid that the plastics ban would catch fire and spread to many other local governments, further eating into their bottom line. So now they are making claims like the ban is inconveniencing the public (though we have yet to hear of any widespread protest) which has lost “access to an all-weather, all-purpose material that is food-safe and very convenient.” Another claim is that a ban on plastics could also be harmful to the environment, including, said the official quoted in the report, the need to use much more water to produce paper and recyclable bags as compared to plastic containers.

The debate rages on, and indeed, it would be up to a state agency, such as the National Ecology Center, to determine the veracity and reliability of claims made by all parties involved in the controversy. But I have a niggling thought regarding the support of the plastics industry for the creation of the Center. Do they know something we don’t? Specifically, the possible identities of the people to be appointed to sit in the Center, and their stand on the plastics vs paper debate, among other environmental issues?

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The grounds of the Cultural Center of the Philippines will be “ground zero” of this year’s observance of Earth Day on Sunday. Greenpeace partners with CCP and other environmental groups as well as sports groups, cultural troupes, bands and community organizations in a daylong celebration that promises to be “fun-filled and eco-friendly.”

Activities reel off at 6 a.m. with the “Family Run for the Planet” that also features calisthenics led by members of the Philippine Dragon Boat Team and Tai Chi “cool down” exercises led by Sanghabi.

The rest of the day will be devoted to workshops on topics like Green Living, biking, toxic-free homes, renewable energy and energy efficiency and a cook-out on organic and raw food.

Starting from 12 noon, “Rock the Earth,” described as an “eco-fashion show and music jam” will rock the grounds, featuring bands like Ermitanyo, Unitima, Ganhava, Sanghabi, Mother Africa, Paul Z/Aqua Drums, Jonan Aguilar and Anak, Toyo Band, and Jeck Pilpil and Peacepipe.

Families and barkada are also invited to take part in the “Picnic for the Planet,” while children can take part in the “Larong Pinoy,” indulging in traditional Filipino street games like patintero, tumbang preso, luksong tinik, and kite-flying. There will also be an “Eco-Amazing Race” that seeks to educate the public on segregation, the 3 Rs and other ways to protect the environment; a visual arts workshop and arts fair; 3D street art painting; and an Eco Fair raising funds for Greenpeace through a bake sale and celebrity ukay-ukay. The public is welcome to donate their “pre-loved” items (books, clothes, bags, furniture and appliances) to be sold at the Eco Fair.

And to ensure that the occasion meets its environmental credentials, organizers aim to keep waste and trash generated at the event to a minimum, urging attendees to “clean as you go” and imposing a strict ban on Styrofoam, while encouraging everyone to use reusable water and food containers.

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If you can’t or won’t visit the great outdoors to celebrate Earth Day, you can still join the celebration by tuning in this Sunday late evening to ABS-CBN Channel 2 for the documentary “Sa Dagat at Bundok (In the Sea and Mountains),” subtitled “The Philippine Biodiversity Expedition.”

The show chronicles the expedition of scientists from the California Academy of Science in their search for new species in Batangas, Angat and Taal. Batangas, so the visiting scientists say, may be considered the “center of the center of biodiversity” in the world, highlighting the need to protect unique and indigenous forms of life in threatened areas. The show is hosted by Bianca Gonzalez, “Kuya Kim” Atienza, and Atom Araullo.