Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Stores pressed to use biobags
IN MANAGING solid waste, reduction is still key.
To do this, Baguio Councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr. said supermarkets and other retail establishments in Baguio City should now be required to use paper bags and boxes, buro bags or other biodegradable containers.
He said plastic bags are the waste materials seen clogging waterways. "To come up with a sustainable and effective waste management program, sources of waste should be properly assessed for regulation," Cosalan said.
In a proposed ordinance, supermarkets, retail stores and manufacturers are only supposed to use biodegradable bagging containers by January 2013.
Goods sold at the wet section of the city market, on the other hand, will have to be wrapped with waxed or glassine paper, but Cosalan said this should still be biodegradable.
To further reduce the number of bags used, shoppers will also be required to bring their own biodegradable bags when shopping. Examples of shopping bags allowed are: paper bags, paper boxes, buri bags or bayong, reusable shopping bags except sando bags, glassine paper or wax paper.
The City Government meantime will partner with the private sector for the conduct of a research aimed towards the formulation, advancement and production of materials to sustain use of biodegradable materials. (RO)
