QC, EcoWaste declare May 14 election materials cleanup day

The Quezon City government is teaming up with EcoWaste Coalition in ensuring “clean” elections.

The city government said it would start its cleanup of campaign materials a day after the polls in anticipation of heaps of garbage that might end up clogging drainage systems in the area.

At the same time, the environment watch group urged other politicians to make May 14 a “cleanup and recycling day.”

The joint clearing operation by the local government, Eco-Waste and the Department of the Interior and Local Government will kick off on Tuesday morning at Quirino Elementary School on Anonas Street in Project 2.

It will focus on the removal of candidates’ campaign paraphernalia, specifically nonbiodegradable materials.

In a statement, the city’s Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) head Frederika Rentoy said the cleanup would cover main roads and barangay streets and would subsequently involve the proper disposal of scrapped election paraphernalia.

“What the city will be doing is to maintain cleanliness in the city and eliminate all these eyesores and materials that later contribute to garbage generation,” she added.

Meanwhile, EcoWaste urged voters nationwide to keep schools and other polling places garbage-free, saying the right to suffrage does not include making a mess.