Ordinance against use of plastics in QC implemented

Quezon City’s Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) has deputized its personnel to make sure that no styrofoam and plastic bags are used as food containers at the QC Hall, Novaliches District Center, Quezon City General Hospital and Novaliches District Hospital.

This is to strictly enforce Ordinance 2127 which prohibits the use of plastic and styrofoam at the Quezon City Hall Complex and other city government buildings for efficient garbage disposal and to reduce the risks to health and well-being, the EPWMD said.

As the dry run implementation and the necessary information dissemination have ended, the EPWMD is optimistic the environment’s burden of digesting non-decaying wastes will be minimized.

Starting this month, the measure is strictly enforced and no employees, visitors, concessionaires and ambulant vendors are allowed to carry non-decomposable waste within the premises of the local government offices to strengthen eco-friendly initiatives of the city government.

Serving of meals and beverages packed in polyethylene-made products and styrofoam during meetings is not permitted to avoid dumping of packaging materials that are hazardous in nature, it said.

Ordering and bringing of food in plastic or styrofoam and entering the offices’ compound with plastic bags as carryout or support packaging among employees and visitors is also discouraged to stop the inflow of these non-decaying wastes.
Employees and visitors are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags when purchasing dry goods or as a support packaging for wet goods.

For waste disposal purposes, black or clear plastic trash bags that are more than 15 microns in thickness may be used provided that the same must be certified by the Department of Science and Technology or other concerned agencies.

Concessionaires and vendors of the aforementioned city government’s offices who will fail to comply with the law will be charged P500 for first offense, P1,000 for second offense and P2,000 and cancellation of business/operating permit for third offense while visitors will be given warning on first offense, P500 on second offense and P1,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.

For employees caught disobeying the measure will face individual warning from the city personnel’s office for first offense, warning from the department and from the employee’s head of his/her office or department if found guilty for the second time, and P2,000 and reprimand from the department and from the employee’s head of his/her office or department. –Arlie O. Calalo, Daily Tribune