Bacolod City to Regulate Plastic Bags in November 2012

If there’s any doubt in our minds that the unregulated use of plastic bags contribute to the clogging of our drainage system, then the recent flooding in Metro Manila and Luzon has surely dispelled such doubts.

The sight of tons of garbage mostly composed of plastic bags is certainly nothing new. After every flood, the same scene plays like a bad dream but people still don’t learn. Hopefully, with the implementation of Bacolod City Ordinance 562, known as the Plastic Bags Regulation Ordinance, it will not be the case with Bacolod.

The ordinance, authored by Councilor Em Ang, is set to be fully implemented on November 23, 2012 following a one year moratorium. The ordinance will regulate the use of plastic sando bags used as secondary packaging. Plastic bags used as primary packaging are not covered by the ordinance on the basis of hygiene.

The penalties for individuals, ambulant vendors and business establishment violating the ordinance will be fined as follows:

• First Offense : P1,000.00 fine and confiscation of the plastic bags
• Second Offense: P3,000.00 fine and confiscation of the plastic bags
• Third Offense: P5,000.00 fine, confiscation of the plastic bags and/or imprisonment of not more than six (6) months upon the discretion of the court and in the case of business establishments, cancellation of their license to operate for a period of one (1) year

Read the full text of the ordinance from Councilor Ang’s website.

Personally, I support this ordinance since  we are already reusing our plastic bags at home and bring cloth bags when having our regular grocery shopping.

I think this is a bold move for the city which will need a lot of political will from our leaders. However, If we’ll have the same problem with our garbage collection like what happened last December, then the ordinance will be useless.

Here are just some tips on how to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle plastic sando bags

1. Reduce the use of plastic sando bags by bringing your own bag when buying from stores.
2. Don’t throw away your dirty plastic bags. Wash and reuse them at home. We use ours as garbage bags.
3. Donate your plastic plastic bags to Bag-O Plastic, a social enterprise in Bago City which make bags, coin purse and wallets  from plastic bags.

Establishments already compliant with the Bacolod City’s Plastic Bags Regulation Ordinance

1. SM City – the mall has been implementing their own program on the reduction on use of plastic bags with their Green Bag Program and the use of biodegradable plastics even before the implementation of the city ordinance.
2. Planta Hotel – last May I was surprised that the waiter refused to give us plastic bags to bring home leftover foods from a function we had at the hotel apparently in compliance to the ordinance. Since we were unaware that they are implementing this program, we had to buy plastic bags.
3. Lopue’s East Department Store– the establishment is implementing a no plastic day every Wednesday so when you shop Lopue’s East on a Wednesday, don’t be surprised if they will use paper to wrap your purchased items. Or better yet, bring your own bag.
4. St.John’s Institute – St. John’s Institute has been using ecobags for a few years already, no garbage cans in the campus except the canteen. All students are given their own ecobag every year and that’s what they put their trash. – shared by Abigail Dy Dingcong

We cannot say goodbye to plastics forever because we need them in our daily lives. What we need to do is to have a conscious effort to minimize our use of plastics as much as possible and be responsible in its proper disposal.

There will be some resistance in the beginning but if everybody cooperates, the implementation of the ordinance will benefit us in the long term.  This will not be the answer to our problems in flooding but it will greatly help in reducing our plastic wastes. Besides, we can’t just put all the blame to the Government every time there’s flooding.  Let’s be part of the solution and help in our own little way.

If you have any tips on reducing, reusing and recycling, please share with us by leaving a comment below. Or if you know of any establishment implementing a program in compliance with the ordinance, please share with us so that more people will be aware of their efforts.