THEN AND NOW A composting shed for biodegradable wastes (lower photo) has been built in place of a stinky, disease-causing dump near a wet market in Barangay 34, Caloocan City, thanks to a campaign that convinced the local government and a cooperative of the need for proper solid waste management. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia Loyzaga on Tuesday enjoined business owners to build resilient communities as they fulfill their duties under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law.
Loyzaga pointed out that businesses can start their EPR campaigns by introducing livelihood opportunities, such as for waste-pickers, which can be incorporated into the solid waste management industry.
“I call on our partners to include in their programs the improvement of livelihood of waste pickers in their communities through the development of alternative opportunities for livelihood and the incorporation into the evolving formal solid waste management industry,” said Loyzaga in a statement published on the department’s official Facebook page on Tuesday.
Loyzaga also said that a whole-of-society effort is needed for the country’s journey towards sustainability through upcycling and repurposing plastic waste.
“The DENR recognizes the social dimension of plastics. What we are asking is for everyone to join us in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort towards sustainability and resilience through upcycling and repurposing wastes as we know it and removing plastics throughout our economy with a sufficient substitution,” she added.
Under the EPR law which was signed in 2022, enterprises who generate plastic packaging waste are mandated to implement an EPR program that will place the responsibility of managing plastic waste on them, after the consumer has used their products.