THE Cagayan de Oro City Government’s effort to address waste problem is gaining momentum.

In Cogon market alone, the environment officials have recorded a 50 percent reduction of solid wastes following the plastic ban implementation.

City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) chief Engineer Armen Cuenca said the change was observed immediately after the plastic ban was enforced on January 15.

Cuenca said before the plastic ban enforcement, some 20 to 24 baskets full of garbage are collected everyday in Cogon market.

However after the implementation, the volume of garbage was slashed to half with only eight to ten baskets of market wastes are collected everyday.

“We attribute this to the plastic ban kay ang Cogon, the busiest market in the city, mo-produce gyud na siyang daghan kaayo nga cellophane kay tanan bisan unsa imong paliton diha, isulod man ug cellophane,” he said.

(We attribute this to the plastic ban because in Cogon, the busiest market in the city, produces a lot of cellophane because all of the items bought there, are all put in cellophane.)

“Dako kaayo ug tabang kung sa merkado makuhaan ang waste kay producer man gyud siya ug garbage,” he added.

(It is a big help if the market has less plastic, waste will be reduced because it is a producer of garbage.)

Under the City Ordinance 13378-2018 or the Integrated Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance, business establishments, fast food outlets, pharmacies, food kiosks, convenience stores and ambulant vendors are restricted from using plastic cellophane in packing their goods.

Cuenca said under the ordinance, plastic bags can only be used for packing meat and fish.

Violators are required to pay the administrative penalty within 72 hours in the amount of P3,000 per bag. Failure to pay the penalty on time will result to filing of appropriate charges.

Cuenca said waste reduction will lead to the sustainability of the Pagalungan landfill, stop pollution of the rivers and seas, solve the clogging problem, among others.