Cleanup drive held after Bambanti fest

By Leander C. Domingo

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela -- The Environment and Natural Resources Office and  provincial government of Isabela conducted a cleanup drive to collect accumulated wastes during the recently concluded Bambanti Festival.
    Forester Geronimo Cabaccan Jr., ENRO chief, said the activity was very timely since it coincides with the observance of National Zero Waste Month. It also aims to demonstrate a zero-waste workplace for the Provincial Capitol's employees and constituents.
    ENRO officials noted that during the weeklong festival celebration which ended on Jan. 29, 2023, there was a remarkable volume of mixed waste generated due to an influx of visitors coming from different places.
    January is National Zero Waste Month with the theme "Stepping up with Solid Waste Management Through Efficient Extended Producer Responsibility."
    Mandated by Presidential Proclamation 760 of the late President Benigno Aquino 3rd on May 5, 2014, National Zero Waste Month aims to promote environmental awareness and action among Filipinos and also deepen public participation in the development of national and local integrated, comprehensive and ecological waste management programs.
    As an advocacy, zero waste promotes the designing and managing of products and processes to eliminate the volume and toxicity of wastes and materials.
    Officials said there were approximately 76 kilograms of biodegradable waste, 35 kilograms of recyclable waste, 356 kilograms of residual waste and 15 kilograms of special waste collected during the activity.
    Cabaccan said the collected recyclable wastes were stored at the materials recovery facility within the ENRO vicinity for further sorting and segregation.
    "Biodegradable wastes were placed in the compost heap for decomposition to become organic or serve as soil enhancers and conditioners, while collected residual wastes were given to the City of Ilagan garbage collector for proper disposal at the sanitary landfill facility in Santa Catalina village in the city," he said.
    DENR-Environment Management Bureau Director William Cuñado also cited Republic Act (RA) 11898, otherwise known as the "Extended Producer Responsibility Act (EPRA) of 2022, which lapsed into law on July 23, 2022.
    He explained that RA 11898 requires large companies to adopt and implement policies for the proper management of plastic packaging wastes and that companies establish EPRA programs for plastic waste reduction, recovery and diversion.
    "RA 11898 is a practical approach to efficient waste management, focusing on waste reduction, recovery and recycling, and the development of environment-friendly products that advocate the internationally accepted principles on sustainable consumption and production, circular economy, and producers' full responsibility throughout the life cycle of products," Cuñado said.