Sunday, June 11, 2006
Chemical firms told to recover empty containers
By Jane Cadalig
BAGUIO CITY -- Chemical companies distributing their products in Buguias, Benguet were required to recover all their empty containers.
In a bid to preserve the town's environment, the local government recently passed an ordinance requiring all chemical firms to retrieve the empty containers used by the farmers.
The move came following a research, which disclosed that empty chemical containers pose hazards to the environment and on the health of the constituents.
The research, conducted by the Philippine Inter-University Cooperation from the Benguet State University and Saint Louis University, revealed that the contamination of potable water in this town is due to the spillage from empty containers of pesticides, weedicides, fungicides, and other chemical products.
Farmers using these chemicals were directed to bring the empty bottles or containers to the designated material recovery facilities in their respective barangays without removing the label (for proper identification) for proper disposal and easier collection.
Companies that fail to collect their respective containers shall be fined an amount ranging from P500 to P5,000 and/or imprisonment.
Farmers who do not comply with the provisions of the ordinance shall be fined P200 to P1,000 and/or imprisonment.
Barangays that do not establish their material recovery facilities shall be reprimanded by the Municipal Solid Waste Management Task Force, or fined P1,000 and/or imprisonment. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
(June 11, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
Poll body to try to reconcile 2 factions in Liberal Party