The city government is integrating extended producer responsibility (EPR) in managing plastic waste generated by the consumer market in this highly urbanized city.

As of Wednesday, the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) has been implementing programs such as the “Trash to Cashback” that provides incentives for recyclable items brought to the community drop-off centers and the Tindahan Extra Mile: Balik PET Bottle, which engages sari-sari stores and food stalls as partners in the collection of recyclable materials.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said in an interview that instead of banning its use for packaging, there is now a system for retrieving all plastics released in the market.

“That’s what we are adhering to right now, and let’s see how effective it is,” he added.

Under Republic Act 11898 or the EPR Act, large companies called the obliged enterprises are compelled to implement EPR programs, focusing on efficient plastic packaging waste management, reduced plastic production, importation, supply, and usage and promoting plastic neutrality via recovery and diversion methods.

“The reason why we have ‘Trash to Cashback’ and Tindahan Extra Mile, that is already like a compliance to the EPR,” BENRO head Ma. Fe Trespuentes said in an interview.

Benitez asked Trespuentes to gather data on the volume of plastic waste released or generated in the city and how much is being retrieved or recovered.

In October last year, the city government collected at least 8,097.29 kilograms of plastic bottle waste for recycling during the 17-day collection period of the 45th MassKara Festival.

Some 445,455 pieces of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were gathered in line with the joint campaign of BENROW with Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc., and Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies Inc.

Through the EPR Act, which lapsed into law in July 2022, firms with total assets of more than PHP100 million are mandated by law to recover or divert 20 percent of their plastic footprint – or the waste generated after their products have been sold and used by consumers, by end-2023.

They may do this by initiating their own EPR schemes or by tapping a producer responsibility organization that can help firms in recycling, waste recovery, reuse or other initiatives. (PNA)