Environment groups
pitch ‘Zero Waste’
BY ANGELA LOPEZ DE LEON
ENVIRONMENTAL groups yesterday urged the public to adopt "Zero Waste," citing the dangers of greenhouse gases (GHG) that cause global warming and trigger climate change.
The EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and the Miss Earth Foundation staged a parade in Barangay Krus na Ligas in Quezon City to encourage the public to cut the amount of trash going to bins, waterways and dumpsites to help avoid the climate crisis.
"There is a need to moderate the destructive effects of these intensifying typhoons by cutting carbon emissions deep and fast. We need everyone to work against climate change by cutting our waste size to the minimum and ensuring that our discards are ecologically managed and not merely thrown, dumped or burned," said actor Roy Alvarez of the EcoWaste Coalition.
The groups paraded a lion waste monster made from plastic bags -- the most visible garbage materials during the post-storm "Ondoy" cleanup.
The lion danced to the vigorous beat of drums made of recycled materials.
The groups noted that "Zero Waste" is an efficient application of waste prevention that includes reduction, reuse, recycling and composting in any level which has shown to reduce GHG emissions from avoided disposal and reduced demand for virgin materials.
"The destructive back-to-back storms (Ondoy and Pepeng) remind us that we can no longer live ‘business as usual.’ Our wasteful consumption patterns are heating up our planet in a fast pace," said Gigie Cruz of GAIA.
According to GAIA’s fact sheet, Zero Waste is among the cheapest and most effective strategies to combat climate change since its application lessens the use of fossil fuel from materials extraction, production, consumption and disposal, thus reducing GHG emissions from these activities, while saving the forests and mountains and protecting other essential life support systems.
"Composting our biodegradable discards, for instance, eliminates methane releases from dumpsites and landfills, while improving soil fertility and reducing demands for synthetic fertilizer and toxic pesticides," said Cruz.
The groups also called on the public to refrain from using single-use disposable items; to cut back on plastic bags and switch to reusable carry bags; segregate discards for easier and cleaner recycling; compost biodegradable discards into soil nutrients; separate hazardous waste from regular household waste; and avoid burning or dumping discards.
Representatives of the Cavite Green Coalition, Earth Renewal Project, EARTH UST, Health Care Without Harm, Sanib-Lakas ng mga Aktibong Lingkod sa Inang Kalikasan, Sining Yapak and youth from Punta, Santa Ana also took part in the parade.
The city government of Makati, through its Department of Environmental Services (DES) and in partnership with Integral Art Metta Inc., will hold rituals and exhibits for nature tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Bonifacio Monument, Makati Park and Garden.
Dubbed "Diwang Ilog Pasig: Daloy, Buhay at Pag-Ibig," the event will kick off with a tree planting activity at the South Superhighway.
Participants at the tree planting activity include employees of the city government, representatives from partner organizations, the Makati Liga ng mga Barangay, teachers, students and residents.
A brief program will be also held at the Bonifacio Monument with messages to be delivered by Mayor Jejomar Binay and architect Deogracias Tablan, executive director of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.
The event will highlight the Stand Up Campaign for the Environment activity staged by the city in observance of the Stand Up Campaign towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) organized by the United Nations.
Makati will be hosting the national observance of the Stand Up Campaign, which is a massive global mobilization and advocacy effort to put pressure on world leaders to take action on poverty and at the same time meet the targets set in the MDGs by 2015
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