Lead clean-up of your campaign trash, bets urged

A WASTE and pollution watchdog on Monday challenged candidates to take the lead in tearing down their campaign materials posted in public places and saving those that could be reused or recycled.

“Candidates must show their sense of environmental responsibility and sportsmanship by taking the initiative of clearing the streets of campaign materials regardless of the poll results,” EcoWaste Coalition coordinator Aileen Lucero said.

“We appeal to all the candidates and their supporters to dedicate May 10 to the much-needed post-campaign cleanup,” she said.

EcoWaste will lead other environmental groups in a post-election cleanup at Project 6 Elementary School in Project 6, Quezon City, this morning.

Lucero said that after taking down campaign materials, the group would demonstrate how to repurpose tarpaulin posters to reduce trash.

On Election Day, polling places were littered with sample ballots, cigarette butts, candy  wrappers, food and beverage containers, and plastic bags.

EcoWaste lauded the organizers and supporters of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte for keeping the trash to a minimum at their massive miting de avance  at the Luneta last Saturday.

“People voluntarily picking up litter was a sight to behold,” Lucero said.

In contrast, EcoWaste said the miting de avance of Sen. Grace Poe in Plaza Miranda and administration candidate Mar Roxas at the Quezon Memorial Circle were blighted with trash. Dona Z. Pazzibugan