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Ramping up the fight against plastic waste

THE fight against plastic waste ramps up at the start of the year with the launch of two separate movements with similar goals and strategies last January. First, the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Philippines is a broad platform that has organized a systematic collaboration between the government and the private sector. Second, the Philippine Chapter of the Asia Reuse Consortium consists of civil society organizations, government agencies and businesses. Both have crafted or are in the middle of formulating road maps that will see a significant reduction in plastic pollution that has been clogging our oceans, filling our dumpsters and damaging our health and environment.

Their work is cut out for them. During the NPAP launch on Jan. 23, Environment Secretary Maria Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga described their «immense» challenge: «The Philippines generates approximately 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste each year.» Leakage of the latter amounts annually to 500,000 tons. Plastic waste also makes up 12 to 24 percent of the 61,000 metric tons of general waste the country produces daily.

Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones further elaborated on areas of improvement: the lack of a comprehensive data system that makes it difficult to track the full scope of plastic waste, logistical challenges in waste collection caused by the archipelago's fragmented infrastructure and the high cost of implementation of plastic reduction programs for many businesses.

Helping organizations align with a circular economy is at the heart of the NPAP plan. As Yulo-Loyzaga put it, that approach will shift perspectives of plastic from «an insurmountable burden» to «an opportunity for science, engineering, technology and innovation» to address plastic pollution. «By adopting circularity, we can transform waste into resources, reduce environmental pressures, and enhance [the] economic and social well-being of all.»

The NPAP framework is anchored on existing laws such as the Extended Producers' Responsibility (EPR) Act and the Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production.

Leonas itemized some strategies that the NPAP Steering Board brainstormed about during

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