Post-election community cleanup urged
“Let the cleanup begin.”
The EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, yesterday called on all barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan candidates in the country’s 42,025 barangays to get rid of their campaign materials before they degenerate into health and environmental hazards.
Despite the limited campaign period of only 10 days, Barangay and SK bets spent tons of paper and plastic materials – from leaflets, stickers, posters, streamers, buntings to sample ballots–to reach out and win over their grassroots constituents, the EcoWaste Coalition noted.
“Win or lose, we appeal to poll candidates to start removing all banners, posters and other campaign materials from around their communities,” said Roy Alvarez, president of EcoWaste Coalition.
“Sooner or later, these materials will degenerate into health and environmental hazards, turning into garbage, blocking storm drains or falling onto innocent motorists or pedestrians,” he said.
The EcoWaste Coalition specifically advised incoming barangay chairpersons to lead the community cleanup drive.
As the barangay chief executive, the chairperson is mandated under R.A. 7160, or the Local Government Code, to enforce laws and regulations pertaining to pollution control and environmental protection.
Under R.A. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the chairperson is tasked to head the Barangay Solid Waste Management Committee, which, among others, is responsible for drawing up and implementing a waste plan, including the establishment of a materials recovery facility to promote recycling.
“Please salvage materials that can still be ‘repurposed’ and do not just throw or burn them,” Alvarez added.
Banners and posters made of tarpaulin, for instance, can be sewn into reusable bags and other functional items such as aprons, stuff organizers and as containers for common household and workplace recyclables such as papers, bottles, cans and plastics.
“Repurposing” retrieved campaign discards will bring about real community benefits, including garbage disposal savings, greenhouse gas emission cuts, and healthier barangays with reduced trash, the EcoWaste Coalition said.
“We also appeal to successful bets not to put up ‘thank you’ tarpaulins anymore, which will only add to the post-election garbage woes,” Alvarez added.
“In lieu of boring and ‘plastic’ signage, please say ‘thank you’ by organizing street, market or estero cleanup or tree-planting activities involving your constituents,” he suggested.*PNA
