JUST as Dagupan City faces a worsening garbage disposal crisis, two councilors have proposed ordinances that will hopefully help reduce non-biodegradable wastes in the city.

Councilor Jesus Canto, head of the committee on health, filed a draft ordinance banning the sale and/or use of plastic and styrofoam packaging materials and kitchen utensils in the city.

Canto pointed out that plastics and styrofoam materials are non-biodegradable items, which adds to the city’s waste disposal problems.

He added that Republic Act 9003, known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000” encourages regulation of certain products and materials that are considered not environmental-friendly.

Canto, former chief of Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan, also said that non-biodegradable materials pose health hazards if not properly handled.

The ordinance, if approved, imposes a fine of P1,000 to not more than P2,000 for the first offense, P2,000 to P3,000 for second offense, and P3,000 to P5,000 or imprisonment for 15 days to one month, or both, and closure of the erring establishment for the third offense.

A similar measure was filed by Councilor Marc Brian Lim seeking to prohibit the use of buntings and pennants made of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials for promotion purposes, especially during fiestas.

Lim said such promotional materials should instead use biodegradable materials such as cloth or natural fibers, soft drink cans or tetra packs, or other indigenous materials like rice stalks, and leaves.

Under Lim’s proposal, first offenders will be fined P500; second, P1,000; and third, P2,500 or imprisonment of three months, or both, at the discretion of the court, and cancellation of licenses or business permits for business entities.

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