STRAIGHT FROM THE BIG CITY

A passion for segregation
IKE SEÑERES

MANILA -- Many say that most Filipinos would not react to socio-political issues not unless it concerns them or threatens them directly. Considering the threats to our environment that could probably result in very serious crisis situations, is it now possible for the majority of our people to develop a passion for the segregation of waste?

Looking at our polluted rivers and bays, most Filipinos could probably bear the sight of dirt and other debris, thinking perhaps that the problem does not affect of threaten them directly. But what could happen if they would know that we could eventually run short of drinking water, and it could become too expensive for most people to buy it, assuming that it could still be available? Are they going to do something to stop water pollution?

The connection between waste segregation and water pollution is of course very obvious, but it seems that most people are not aware that the garbage that pollutes our waterways would not be there in the first place if only these were earlier segregated.

After trying to implement waste segregation programs work in this country for many years without much success, it is about time to develop and try new strategies; otherwise we will not be able to avoid the environmental crisis that is bound to happen.

For whatever it is worth, I think that we should try using the cooperative approach in the implementation of waste segregation programs at the village level, purposely making it a money making livelihood project of the local community.

On the practical side, I think that previous attempts in waste segregation failed simply because the stakeholders, meaning the household members who were supposed to do the segregation were not able to benefit from their participation in the form of direct earnings.

The village cooperative should operate a trading business that will buy and sell the recyclables produced, buying it from the stakeholders, and selling it to consolidators and direct buyers. It is but natural that the profit motive would encourage the stakeholders to develop a passion for segregation.

As you might have figured out by now, the cooperative approach in waste segregation would in effect have a dual benefit, providing livelihood and helping the environment.
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Where voluntary cooperation is not possible, there ought to be laws that would regulate the compulsory recycling of post consumer waste by commercial and industrial producers. In many countries for instance, producers of consumer products including publishers are required to use paper materials with a minimum content derived from recycled post consumer waste. Citing another example, local governments in many countries regulate the redemption values of returnable bottles and other containers. Is this a difficult thing to do in a country that is supposed to have a very high literacy rate?

As it is always said, all politics is local, and that means that governance should have a local focus too. This is perhaps the reason why in many other countries, regulations for the recycling of post consumer waste are usually issued by local governments and this is very practical, because only the local authorities would have the resources to follow through with the rules in the micro level.

Here in the Philippines, it seems that the lack of laws for regulating post consumer waste at the local level is brought about either by the lack of knowledge or the lack of interest. Either way, this is where local environment advocates could become active, by promoting the passage of municipal ordinances, at the same time promoting the awareness and appreciation for these ordinances.

It is ironic to note that here in the country, there seems to be a free for all situation in the use of non-biodegradable packaging for consumer products, as well as for fast food items. For example, it is very common for fast food companies to use plastic cups and Styrofoam containers for dine in items, when it fact these should only be used for take out items.

It would be good to have local ordinances that would encourage fast food outlets to collect and segregate their own post consumer waste, but if that is not possible, they should probably just award the waste collection and segregation business to multi-purpose cooperatives.

It is relatively easy to establish and register a cooperative with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). However, if there are local groups that would have any difficulty in doing that, I could gather volunteers who could help them. Now that we have a mechanism to enable us to succeed, we should not let this opportunity pass.