January 23, 2020

7 Metro Manila Cities That Ban Use of Plastic

Throughout the years, efforts have been made to lessen the use of plastic in order to help reduce harm to the environment. Plastic not only harms the environment but also the creatures that dwell in it—including humans.

In the Philippines, while the efforts are still in progress, there are certain cities that ban the use of plastics and similar materials such as styrofoam to lessen the plastic waste that is consumed.

These cities have also set-up reasonable penalties to those who will violate the City Ordinances that prohibit the usage of plastic and similar materials.

Muntinlupa

Enacted in January 2010, Muntinlupa City’s Ordinance No. 10-109 prohibits the use of plastic bags on dry goods, regulates its use on wet goods, and prohibits the use of styrofoam/styrophor in the city.

Business establishments are prohibited from utilizing plastic bags, styrofoam/styrophor as packaging materials, and containers for dry goods and food products.

City Government of Muntinlupa – OFFICIALさんの投稿 2019年12月18日水曜日

Likewise, the selling of plastic bags is also prohibited. The use of plastic bags on wet goods will be regulated as opposed to prohibited. Those who violate the ordinance will be subjected to the following penalties:

First Offense – Php 500 fine
Second Offense – Php 1,000 fine
Third Offense – Php 2,500 fine AND/OR imprisonment of not more than six months upon the discretion of the court and in the case of business establishment, cancellation of their license to operate for a period of one year.

Pasig City

Pasig City Ordinance #9 Series of 2010 began in July 2011. It bans the use of any form of plastic on dry goods and regulating its use on wet goods. This ordinance also bans the use of styrofoam and similar materials for food, produce, and other products.

Pasig City Public Information Officeさんの投稿 2019年9月1日日曜日

The ordinance applies specifically to plastic bags—including straws, and styrofoam food containers. However, it does not cover cutleries, plastic dining wares, and plastic kitchen wares utilized by fast-food restaurants to serve food and drinks.

Las Piñas City

Las Piñas City began its ban on single-use plastic in January 2012 with City Ordinance No. 1036-11. The city ordinance bans the distribution of thin-film, single-use, carry out, plastic bags and polystyrene foam (styrofoam/styrophor) by individuals and commercial establishments.

City of Las Piñasさんの投稿 2019年10月20日日曜日

Should any establishment violate the ordinance, they will be subjected to the following penalties:

First Offence – Php 1,000 fine
Second Offence – Php 3,000 fine
Third Offence – Php 5,000 fine and/or imprisonment of not more than six months upon the discretion of the court and in the case of commercial establishment, cancellation of their license to operate for a period of one year.

Pasay City

In September 2012, Pasay City implemented City Ordinance No. 4647 which bans the use of plastic bags. This ordinance also promotes use of recyclable paper carryout bags and reusable bags.

City Ordinance No. 4647 further states that any store that “any store that provides a recyclable paper carryout bag or reusable bag to customer must charge the customer reasonable amount for each recyclable paper carryout bag and reusable bag; Provided, that no rebate or reimbursement to a customer is allowed of any portion of the amount charged required hereof. Receipt of a customer must indicate the number of recyclable paper bags or reusable bags provided and the total amount charged for the bags.”

Further, stores that use compostable bags are mandated to submit to the City’s Solid Waste Management Office. These stores will be issued a certificate from the Department of Science and Technology or any authorized government agency attesting to the compostable bags.

Violators of the ordinance will be apprehended and will be subject to the following penalties:

First Offence – Warning
Second Offence – Php 1,000 fine
Third Offence – Php 3,000 fine
Fourth Offence – closure or cancellation of the Mayors/Business Permit

Tampering with the certification or submitting a falsified document or passing off a counterfeit compostable bag as genuine will be subjected to the following penalties:

First Offence – an administrative fine not exceeding Php 3,000
Second Offence – an administrative fine not exceeding Php 5,000

Makati City

Makati City implemented its Plastic Regulation Order in June 2013. According to the ordinance, establishments will be required to provide paper bags, cloth bags, basket/woven bags or equivalent for free or for a fee.

Under the ordinance, business owners are also asked for plastic, Styrofoam, and other non-biodegradable products to the Plastic Monitoring Task Force.

There are, however, products that are exempted from the ban including plastic bottled products, plastic sachet products, and plastic bags used as a primary packaging on wet goods thickness of 15 microns above.

Quezon City

Quezon City’s ban on single-use plastic will begin in February 2020 following Ordinance SP-2876 that was signed by Mayor Joy Belmonte last October 15, 2019. This ordinance bans the distribution and usage of single-use plastics in the city.

Among the single-use and disposable materials not allowed for dine-in customers in the city’s hotels and restaurants are plastic spoons, forks and knives, plastic/paper cups, plates, straws, stirrers, and Styrofoam.

Further, hotels are also prohibited from using personal hygiene items such as bar and liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner, and etc., in sachets and single-use containers.

Upon violation of this policy, violators will be subject to the following penalties:

First offense – a fine of Php 1,000
Second offense – a fine of Php 3,000 plus revocation of environmental clearance and issuance of a cease and desist order by the business permits and Licensing Department
Third offense – a fine of Php 5,000 and revocation of the business permit, and issuance of a closure order

Also read: Quezon City to Ban Single-Use Plastics in 2020

Parañaque City

Parañaque City recently approved of its ban on single-use plastic that will take effect in June 2020. City Ordinance No.18-40 bans the use of single-use plastic for all dry goods. It also bans the distribution of plastic bags, straws, spoons and forks, cups, and stirrers.

Further, items made from styrofoam such as plates, cups, and bowls will also be banned when the ordinance takes effect in June.

Sources: muntinlupacity.gov.ph, pasigcity.gov.ph, pasay.gov.ph, laspinascity.gov.ph, quezoncity.gov.ph, paranaquecity.gov.ph, makati.gov.ph
Images grabbed from the official Facebook page of the Quezon City Government and CENRO Parañaque.