EcoWaste: avoid ‘wasteful’ use of plastic banderitas during fiestas

How do you celebrate without making to much trash? Start by choosing the right material for decorations. EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental watchdog group, says colorful banderitas (buntings) made from plastic bags may be nice to look at during during fiestas, but they present a problem when cleanups start. The bags are not only “extremely wasteful” and they contribute to the cost of garbage disposal, according to EcoWaste. Manila’s waste disposal cost the city P512.564 million (or $11.397 million) in 2013, making it second to Quezon City’s P994.590 million ($22.115 million).  The group expressed this concern following the use of plastic bags as decorations for the Feast Day of the Holy Family on Sunday, January 24 in San Andres, Manila. This is not the first time EcoWaste expressed this concern. During the Black Nazarene procession, the group also lamented the trail of trash that was left in the wake of the event. After the Traslacion, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said there were 30 truckloads of garbage. More on this in the stories below.

Plastic banderitas ‘extremely wasteful’ – watchdog 

Tons of trash during Traslacion ‘deplorable’ – watchdog 

New Year trash in Manila: ‘Totally unacceptable’