Senator Cynthia Villar has exhorted the public to grab the opportunity to revolutionize waste management through a circular economy approach.
Speaking at the Coffee Club Forum at the Bellevue Manila, Villar said one of these initiatives is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, she was able to author and successfully spearhead the legislation of RA No. 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022.
“The EPR Act mandates large enterprises to take responsibility for the proper and effective recovery, recycling, or disposal of the plastic packaging used on their products.”
“The EPR Act mandates large enterprises to take responsibility for the proper and effective recovery, recycling, or disposal of the plastic packaging used on their products after they have been sold and used by consumers,” the veteran legislator explained.
“The goal is to cut down non-environmentally friendly packaging, boost recycling, and promote effective waste recovery to mitigate environmental pollution,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
According to the lady senator, the EPR law presents an opportunity to dramatically reduce plastic waste and facilitate our transition toward a circular economy.
With the implementation of the EPR Act, she said it is a step in the right direction.
“Long before the concept of ‘circular economy’ became popular, its principles were already at the heart of their waste management practices.”
Furthermore, Villar extolled that long before the concept of “circular economy” became popular, its principles were already at the heart of their waste management practices.
With Villar SIPAG, they launched barangay-based livelihood enterprises that turn waste into valuable products, embodying the essence of a circular economy.
“A circular economy creates a loop and requires us to keep resources in use for as long as possible through reuse, and recycling. It stands in stark contrast to the traditional linear economy, which follows a ‘take, make, dispose’ pattern,” she explained.
The circular economy approach, Villar further emphasized, does not only reduce the demand for new resources but also fosters sustainable growth and preserves our environment.
Still, she cited the need for cooperation and sustainable practices to safeguard our environment for the present and future generations.
