SENATOR Cynthia Villar has urged the public to grab the opportunity to revolutionize waste management through the circular economy
approach.
Speaking at the Coffee Club Forum sponsored by Business Mirror at the Bellevue Manila, Villar said one of these initiatives was called the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Villar authored 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 after they have been sold and used by consumers,” Villar said.
“The goal is to cut down non-environmentally friendly packaging, boost recycling, and promote effective waste recovery to mitigate environmental pollution,” she added.
According to the senator, the EPR law presents an opportunity to “dramatically reduce plastic waste and facilitate our transition toward a circular economy.”
She said implementation of the EPR Act “is a step in the right direction.”
The senator noted that long before the concept of ‘circular economy’ became popular, “its principles were already at the heart of their waste management practices.
Through her SIPAG project, Villar they launched the barangay-based livelihood enterprises that recycles waste into valuable products, thereby “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, according to her, does not only reduce the demand for new resources but also fosters sustainable growth and preserves our environment.
She also cited the need for cooperation and sustainable practices to safeguard the environment for the present and future generations.