The country has been celebrating National Zero Waste Month every January since the signing of Proclamation No. 760 in 2014, which encourages all government agencies and stakeholders to participate in efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainable practices.

However, the Philippines has been tagged as one of the top ocean polluters worldwide, primarily due to Filipinos’ dependence on single-use plastics.

For this year’s observance of National Zero Waste Month, Filipinos are once again reminded to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics in favor of reusable alternatives.

“It is time to break free from this harmful practice by harnessing our ingenuity and resourcefulness to develop and promote reusable alternatives for our everyday lives,” Senator Loren Legarda said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I call on all government agencies to take the lead in finding innovative ways to reuse everyday products and reduce waste.”

Legarda also highlighted the long-term goal of transitioning the country to a circular economy, where resources are reused and recycled to minimize waste.

“With successful implementation, we can achieve our goal of transitioning to a circular economy by 2030,” she said. (PNA)