Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines has banned single-use plastics,including plastic bags, straws, spoons and forks, in Government officesfollowing a resolution which became effective on February 26.
The resolution was issued by Secretary ofEnvironment and Natural Resources Roy Cimatu, who is also chair of the NationalSolid Waste Management Commission.
Specifically, the ban covers plasticproducts such as plastic cups less than 0.2 millimetres in thickness, drinkingstraws, coffee stirrers, spoons, forks, knives, thin and translucent plasticbags, and thin-filmed bags lower than 15 microns.
The resolution is a major step to curb theuse of single-use plastic items that pollute the country’s waterways, killmarine life and contribute to increasing solid waste, Cimatu said.
He stated that his ministry will craftspecific guidelines for the implementation of the plastics ban, which formspart of the government's solid waste avoidance and minimisation strategy.
Cimatu added the Philippines produces 2.7metric tonnes of plastic waste every year./.
VNA