Exempt biodegradable plastics, council urged

A grocery store manager asked the Cebu City Council to exempt the use of OXO biodegradable plastic bags from coverage of the city’s “No Plastic Saturday Ordinance.”

In a public hearing on the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the ordinance held by the council yesterday, Kevin Ngochua of Fooda Savers Mart told the council that their store have been using biodegradable plastic for eight years.

He said unlike ordinary plastic bags, OXO biodegradable plastics decompose easily a year after its disposal.

Ngochua showed samples of their biodegradable plastic bags, including the decomposed ones.

But the council said they still have to wait for a study from the Department of Health declaring biodegradable plastic bags as safe for the health and the environment.

“There is still no study on biodegradable plastics and its harmful effects,” Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said.

Unless there is one, Labella said the council could not exempt the use of OXO biodegradable plastics in the ordinance.

“There is no proof at the moment that OXO biodegradable plastic will not harm the environment,” Councilor Nestor Archival, a proponent of the ordinance, said.

Not as healthy

Ngochua said they brought samples of their OXO biodegradable bags to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for testing but they were referred to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

DOST also referred them to a testing center, but it turned out that the laboratory doesn’t have the equipment to test the safety of biodegradable plastic bags.

Ngochua said they are willing to shift to paper bags every Saturday should the council refuse to exempt biodegradable bags.

Shoppers also have the option to buy reusable bags for their groceries. He told the council that the store management is planning to give incentives to shoppers who will be bringing their own reusable bags.

“Environment wise, the use of paper bags is not as healthy as the use of reusable bags,” Ngochua said.

Cebu City’s “No Plastic Saturday Ordinance”, passed in December 2012, encourages store owners to give incentives to shoppers who shift to the use of reusable bags and to hand-over their used plastic bags. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac with Correspondent Edison A. delos Angeles