MMDA: Less litter on Edsa this year

GOOD news from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Christmas Day: More people have become aware of the importance of disposing of their garbage properly judging by the lower volume of trash left on Edsa on Dec. 24 and 25.

This is according to Francis Martinez, head of the MMDA’s Metro Parkway Clearing Group, which is in charge of the cleanup operations on the busy thoroughfare.

Martinez said Friday that between 10 p.m. on Dec. 24 and 6 a.m. the following day, his 30-man team collected “only” 6 cubic meters or 1.6 tons of trash on Edsa, a far cry from the 12 cubic meters they gathered during the same period last year.

“One truck can carry 12 cubic meters of trash. So 6 cubic meters, that is less than a truckload. The [amount of] garbage [now] has really been reduced,” Martinez added.

He reported that the garbage collected by his team from Edsa

—both northbound and southbound lanes—consisted mostly of styrofoam, plastic bottles, cardboard materials and remnants of firecrackers such as fountain and “kwitis” (rocket).

Around “2 percent” of the trash was from the northbound lane, particularly the Edsa-Balintawak area.

“There is a tricycle terminal there and that’s the area where stay-in workers [hang out]. So maybe there is more trash [at Edsa-Balintawak] because there are always a lot of people there,” he told the Inquirer.

Greater awareness

Asked why there was less trash on the thoroughfare compared with the same period last year, Martinez said he believed people were becoming “more aware of the effects of throwing garbage on the streets.”

He attributed this to the damage caused by floods due to sewers clogged by trash.

According to him, he was hoping that this positive development would also hold true during the New Year’s Eve celebration.

But just in case, Martinez said he would be beefing up the number of cleaning personnel he would take with him—from 30 to 50. “Usually, during that season, that’s when there is a lot of garbage,” he added.

While Martinez said he was happy there was less trash on the major thoroughfare, he emphasized that people should not be throwing garbage there or in any public place in the first place.

“People should not be throwing trash into their surroundings. They should dispose of garbage in trash cans instead,” he said.

No firecrackers, please

Martinez also reminded the public to refrain from lighting fireworks on Edsa during New Year’s Eve to avoid inconveniencing motorists.

“And don’t burn tires on that thoroughfare. That can also pose some danger to motorists,” he said.