To tackle plastic scourge, Philippines makes companies pay

The Manila Times

To tackle plastic scourge, Philippines makes companies pay  The Philippines is hoping new legislation requiring big companies to pay for waste solutions will help clean up its act. Last year, its 'Extended Producer Responsibility' statute came into force -- the first in Southeast Asia to impose penalties on companies over plastic waste. The experiment has shown both the promise and the pitfalls of the tool, which could be among the measures in a treaty to tackle plastic pollution that countries hope to agree this year.  AFP VIDEO  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes  #worldnews  #philippines  #plastic

Transcript

00:00**Train sounds**

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01:10We partner always with women and our inspiration came from sari-sari stores.

01:16There's a sari-sari store in every single neighborhood, barangay, community.

01:21So the thought is people are still already going there.

01:24What if they brought their plastic and sold it to the sari-sari store and make a little bit extra money?

01:30So that's exactly what we do and the community comes and brings their plastic.

01:35Our Ali Tindera then buys it from them.

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01:59EPR has helped a lot in the sense of it's become super awareness.

02:05Companies have to comply.

02:07There's companies who want to do more than comply.

02:11There's companies who help us set up these sites and will sponsor these sites.

02:17It also has brought into light how big of a problem plastic is.

02:22So I think it's been a huge help.

02:25It's still very young. It's a young law and it's currently always changing.

02:29But we do see a lot of potential in it.

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03:52If we will not be addressing this plastic or will not act on the problem of plastics

03:58then most of this plastic will end up in water bodies that will clog our riverways

04:03and that will result in flooding.

04:06We provide incentives to those who will be complying with the EPR.

04:12And then for those non-compliant industries, then we apply the stick.

04:18We have the penalties. We have the fines to be imposable to them.

04:23And then there are not only imposable fines, there will be implications on their permits.

04:29We might cancel all the permits they secured from us.

04:33Like for example, ECC, Environmental Compliance Certificate or Discharge Permit, we can cancel it.

04:38And they cannot operate.

04:40**Speaking Filipino**

04:55Well of course it costs companies budget to support collection and diversion.

05:03But that's really something that we just said we would commit to do for the environment

05:09and that's something that we started last year and hope to continue moving forward.

05:14We work with our PRO to determine how much plastic we are able to produce in a year for example.

05:24And then we target the same amount for collection and diversion.

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