Paper is in, plastic is out. In Los Baños, try shopping and be ready to have your goodies wrapped in paper or placed in boxes.
With the passing of Municipal Ordinance 2008-752 on June 2, 2008, the use of plastic bag has become prohibited. The ordinance also regulates the use of plastics on wet goods and prohibits the use of styrofoam. Corresponding penalties are likewise prescribed in the ordinance.
With the cooperation of business establishments, a year after the implementation of the ordinance, a marked decrease in the amount of garbage produced in Los Baños, notably, plastic waste was observed.
Plastic bags are harmful to the environment – harmful to sea creatures and when burned, harmful to our air and surroundings. According to Matt Ford of CNN, more than 13 billion plastic bags are issued every year to shoppers across the world and only 1% of these are recycled.
From plastic to cash
Recognizing the need for recycling waste, Mayor Caesar B. Perez established the Los Baños Ecological Processing Waste Center (EWPC) located at the dumpsite of the municipality. EPWC is a recycling area for biodegradable and nonbiodegradable wastes.
Biodegradable wastes are turned into compost, which is used to enrich the soil and is given free to farmers.
Nonbiodegradable wastes, on the other hand, still pose a problem to the municipality. Recycling of these wastes is difficult but Mayor Perez started fabricating machines that would aid in manufacturing different products derived from these plastic wastes.
The properties of plastic can be altered through innovative melting-blending and hot pressing processes. Using locally fabricated equipment, EWPC has developed several durable building materials from plastic wastes, some of which are: a) hollow blocks, b) panels, c) corrugated roofing sheets, d) thick pathways, among other products.
Hollow blocks made from plastic wastes are unbreakable, durable, lighter in weight than commercial ones, and has a high compressive strength of 867 psi. Hot-pressed panels were also made from shredded plastic wastes and can be glossy, decorative, or multicolored of various thickness and densities.
To date, the EWPC strives to develop more durable, environment-friendly plastic products derived from waste.
More to the plastic ordinance
The Municipal Government of Los Baños is one of the 22 member agencies of the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI). Los Baños as the site of these agencies is kept ecologically sound with anti-littering; anti-smoking; Tapat Mo, Linis Mo; and waste segregation ordinances.
In the upcoming National Science and Technology Week-LBSCFI celebration slated from July 21 to 24, the municipal government will take part in the exhibit dubbed as “Syensaya 2: LBSC, facing the global crisis through S&T” to showcase its various projects and activities.
Indeed, the town is doing its share in dealing with the global crisis. And it doesn’t just start and end in dealing with plastics. For more information, please visit http://www.losbanosweb.com/index.htm. (Jercyl Laforteza)
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