MANILA, Philippines – Consumers should have a choice between paper and plastic, and pay for it, the Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP) said in a study.
The study, funded by Ayala Foundation, said it “is in favor of regulation of the use of plastic bags instead of total elimination, and developing a more effective and efficient system of reuse or recycling of these plastic bags as well as proper collection and disposal.”
It said that “it is not always advisable to focus on one aspect (the environment) since an ordinance can also influence other dimensions like the sociocultural, political, institutional, health, economic and technical.”
It said an information and education campaign was needed and its priority must be a “change in people’s habits” regarding waste disposal.
The local plastic industry said people should be given a choice depending on their needs. SWAPP said one complaint about paper was that it was not as easy and strong to carry groceries in, especially when it rained.
“Shoppers should be given a choice and they should be able to pay for that choice,” said Crispian Lao, spokesperson of the Philippine Plastic Industry Association, in a statement.
“That decision should include a responsibility to dispose of that choice properly. If there’s an opportunity—to reuse or recycle plastic,” he said.