Bacolod City is taking significant steps towards managing its plastic waste by incorporating the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. This initiative aims to handle the plastic waste produced by consumers in this bustling urban center. The Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) has launched several programs, including ‘Trash to Cashback,’ which rewards individuals for bringing recyclable materials to community drop-off points, and ‘Tindahan Extra Mile: Balik PET Bottle,’ which involves local stores and food stalls in collecting recyclables.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has expressed optimism about the new system, which focuses on retrieving plastics from the market rather than banning their use in packaging. He stated, ‘That’s what we are adhering to right now, and let’s see how effective it is.’
The EPR Act, officially known as Republic Act 11898, mandates large companies, referred to as obliged enterprises, to manage their plastic packaging waste efficiently. This includes reducing plastic production, importation, supply, and usage, and promoting plastic neutrality through recovery and diversion methods.
BENRO head Ma. Fe Trespuentes highlighted that initiatives like ‘Trash to Cashback’ and ‘Tindahan Extra Mile’ align with the EPR requirements. Mayor Benitez has requested Trespuentes to compile data on the volume of plastic waste generated and retrieved in the city.
Last October, during the 45th MassKara Festival, Bacolod City successfully collected over 8,097 kilograms of plastic bottle waste for recycling over a 17-day period. This effort was part of a collaborative campaign with Coca-Cola Philippines, Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc., and Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies Inc., resulting in the collection of 445,455 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
The EPR Act, which became law in July 2022, requires companies with assets exceeding PHP100 million to recover or divert 20 percent of their plastic footprint by the end of 2023. Companies can achieve this through their own EPR programs or by partnering with a producer responsibility organization to facilitate recycling, waste recovery, and reuse initiatives.