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TIPS: How to make your household environment-friendly, plastics-free

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Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Workers sort different types of plastic at The Plastic Flamingo upcycling facility in Muntinlupa City on March 18, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/04/16/20220318-plastic-recycling-muntinlupa-gc-3188.jpg"/><figcaption>Workers sort different types of plastic at The Plastic Flamingo upcycling facility in Muntinlupa City on March 18, 2022. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — As the Philippines continue to be the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/06/10/21/philippines-global-plastic-problem-study">worst</a> plastic polluter in the ocean, with <a href="https://www.no-burn.org/plastics-exposed-how-waste-assessments-and-brand-audits-are-helping-philippine-cities-fight-plastic-pollution/">millions</a> of single-use plastics being thrown away everyday, green campaigners and advocates are urging Filipinos to practice zero-waste initiatives and refuse plastic use. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/03/19/22/green-firm-finds-new-use-and-home-for-plastic-waste">Green enterprise finds new function — and home — for plastic waste</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/03/30/22/scientists-find-microplastics-in-blood-for-first-time">For the first time ever, scientists detect microplastics presence in human blood</a></li></ul><p>Environment group Oceana Philippines said this should start in Filipino homes, focused on reusing plastic products and the mindset that small changes could make a big impact.</p><p>Last month alone, newly-installed Environment Secretary Jim Sapulna announced backing single-use plastics after the pollution became &quot;uncontrollable.&quot; </p><p>For Oceana&#x27;s vice president Gloria Ramos, the plastics problem has become a health risk too, even if many individuals still do not think it is not yet alarming. </p><p>&quot;If we don’t rethink our strategies, even if the pandemic doesn’t kill us, plastic pollution will,” said Ramos in a statement.</p><p>Here are some tips to keep your home plastics-free and environment-friendly, according to Oceana&#x27;s campaigners : </p><div><strong>1. COOK YOUR OWN FOOD </strong></div><p>This prevents unnecessary plastic utensils, packaging, from being circulated. </p><p>This is good for the health too. Recent studies have shown that around <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/07/21/ordering-in-your-food-delivery-may-contain-toxic-chemicals-from-plastic-packs">12,000 chemicals</a> are used in food-contact containers, many of which migrate to the food we eat. </p><div><strong>2. FIND ALTERNATIVES</strong></div><p>If ordering in will be unavoidable, the advocacy group said consumers should choose food establishments that offer non-plastic packaging. There are several stores in Metro Manila, for example, that have plastic-free deliveries. </p><div><strong>3. REUSE</strong></div><p>Reusing plastic containers can be helpful, most especially when buying wet products in the market. Bringing eco-bags, bayongs, and reusable bags can also reduce plastic leakage in the environment.</p><p>A Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) study in 2019 showed that Filipinos use 48 million shopping bags daily or 17.5 billion yearly. </p><p>&quot;As long as the mass production of throwaway plastics continues unabated, cities and countries will find it harder and harder to cope,&quot; the report read. </p><div><strong>4. BUY IN BULK</strong></div><p>Buying in bulk prevents more plastics from being used. Oceana suggested that if possible, Filipinos should buy products in bulk and not in sachets. </p><p>When buying groceries online or physically, the group proposed that the products might be placed in a box rather than plastic bags.</p><div><strong>5. CARRY REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES</strong></div><p>When going out, Oceana said it is better to carry reusable bottles or food containers. Bringing own utensils and coffee mugs are also encouraged. </p><div><strong>6. USE BEESWAX WRAPS</strong></div><p>Instead of using plastic sheets to preserve food or leftovers, Oceana said individuals could prefer using beeswax wraps instead. </p><p>While some beeswax wraps can be expensive, these are reusable for up to a year.</p><div><strong>7. USE CLOTHS</strong></div><p>The group noted that washable cloths could be an alternative to wet wipes when cleaning surface areas or for other use. </p><p>While wet wipes resemble a cloth&#x27;s material, the former gets thrown away easily, piling in our trash.</p><p>GAIA, meanwhile, are suggesting zero-waste initiatives, which they said reduces waste output by up to <a href="https://www.no-burn.org/going-zero-waste/">80 percent</a>. This has been attainable in some 400 municipalities in Europe, they said, while cities in the region and Asia also following suit.</p><p>This can be begin through the following: </p><ul>	<li>Reducing waste generation by being conscious consumers, and by focusing on reuse and repair. </li>	<li>Separating discards</li>	<li>Home composting </li>	<li>Creating new business out of recyclables and organics.</li>	<li>Educating the public to increase participation in such initiatives. </li></ul><p>A manual of the group&#x27;s zero-waste program for households and the community is available <a href="https://www.no-burn.org/wp-content/uploads/ZWC-Manual_20200725-1.pdf">here</a>: </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/27/21/govt-urged-to-act-on-neglect-of-ph-plastics-crisis">Groups, scientists bring gov&#x27;t to court for alleged neglect of PH &#x27;plastics crisis&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>Jorge Emmanuel, adjunct professor of environmental science and engineering at the Silliman University, in March told ABS-CBN News that to address the plastic problem, its production should be gradually phased out.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/09/08/21/greenpeace-asks-online-stores-to-cut-down-plastics-use">As holidays draw near, Greenpeace urges e-commerce sites to cut down on plastics use</a></li></ul><p>While recycling can address the problem in the short term, something must be done to guarantee that its production would not go out of hand, he said.</p><p>&quot;Recycling is not the solution. It does have . . . play an important role for the interim, for the recyclable plastics that can be safely recycled. We cannot stop the production of plastic tomorrow,&quot; he said.</p><p>Lawmakers in the House last year passed a measure seeking to gradually <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/28/21/single-use-plastic-bill-approved-final-reading">phase out</a> the production, sale, and use of single-use plastics, while the Senate passed a <a href="http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2022/0131_prib9.asp">bill</a> seeking to make plastic manufacturers accountable for their plastic waste.</p><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1652204" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

'If we don’t rethink our strategies, even if the pandemic doesn’t kill us, plastic pollution will.'

TIPS: How to make your household environment-friendly, plastics-free

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TIPS: How to make your household environment-friendly, plastics-free

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 16, 2022 02:00 PM PHT

Read More:

plastics

zero-waste

plastics problem

Philippines plastics

zero-waste initiatives

plastics crisis

Oceana

GAIA

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives

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