Every year, the world produces around five trillion plastic bags. That is about 700 bags per person. Utilized for just a few minutes, take centuries to decompose. These wastes pile up in our lands and easily washed up into our streams, and rivers until they reach the oceans. Polluting our waters, destroying aquatic habitats, and eventually kill marine species.
“The home of ACB, Los Baños, Laguna, is the first ever municipality in the Philippines that regulated the use of plastic bags through Municipal Ordinance No. 2008-752. Now, the town also prohibits the use of plastic straws, plastic cups, and plates… These conservation efforts are being replicated by other towns and cities in the country,”Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director
The problems caused by the proliferation of plastic wastes include: clogging of waterways causing serious flooding and landslides. Health problems due to the ingestion of harmful chemicals like benzene and styrene. Loss of marine biodiversity caused by water pollution. Air pollution by burning plastic wastes. Economic damage to marine ecosystems.
“The ACB Centre joins the movement against the use of plastics, and supports the Member States’ initiatives in banning plastic use, and strictly implementing waste management laws and policies,” Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director
The ACB was established in 2005 by the ASEAN Member States as a response to biodiversity loss in the region. It coordinates the implementation of activities in the ASEAN leading to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, for the benefit of the region and the AMS.
Reducing plastic wastes in the ASEAN region
Brunei Darussalam aims to stop the use of plastic bags in supermarkets by 2019, and shoppers are encouraged to use reusable eco-friendly bags for shopping. Major supermarkets which joined the Beat Plastic Pollution initiative are considering it to be part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
In Cambodia, major supermarkets charge KHR 400 (USD 0.10) per plastic bag to reduce its wasteful use. Lao PDR also encourages the public to use recyclable bags which are being sold in downtown cafes and markets. Malaysia, Myanmar, and Indonesia also implement bans and taxes on the use of plastic bags.
In Singapore, one of the world’s giant players in the fast food chain industry with 84 restaurants in the country, announced that they will be banning plastics for dine-in customers on 20 June 2018.
A line of mini-marts and convenience stores in Thailand with 11,000 operating stores implements the “Say No to Plastic Bag” campaign to uphold policies in line with the international environmental standards. Thailand government’s national agenda primarily aims to promote the importance of reducing the number of plastic bags to lessen the harmful effects to our environment.
Large businesses and enterprises in Vietnam also introduced eco-friendly bags for shoppers, and the government imposes environment tax on plastic bags, which is VND 40,000 (USD 1.76) per kilogram.
On 12 June 2018, the Philippines government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urged the general public to avoid using disposable plastic products that clog waterways, cause ocean pollution, and poison marine species.
“Plastic, particularly those for single-use packaging, has greatly contributed to the degradation of the environment. Plastic pollution continues to poison our oceans and injure marine life. When not properly disposed, they clog waterways and cause flooding,” Roy Cimatu, DENR Secretary
Public markets and large supermarkets in some cities and municipalities practice the “Bring Your Own Bag” (BYOB), a campaign aimed to encourage consumers to bring a reusable bags when shopping.
“If you can’t reuse it, refuse it.”
This is the global call to stop using “single-use” plastic materials as we celebrate this year’s World Environment Day with the theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution.” While plastic provides significant number of uses in our daily lives, it poses greater threats to biodiversity and environment.
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