Tackling Plastic Pollution in the Philippines: A Growing Crisis

As an environmentally-conscious agency, we are increasingly becoming aware of issues globally, which we cannot necessarily see the extent of on our doorstep, though are often caused by our behaviour at home. Our colleague, Laurence, who was born and raised in the Philippines, explains the plastic pollution problem in his home country.

Plastic pollution is a global environmental challenge but few places are feeling its impact as much as the Philippines.

Laurence as a toddler living in the Philippines

While I don’t live there anymore, the Philippines will always be home to me and my family and the scale of the problem is a big concern for us all.

It threatens both the environment and the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos, including people we love, so I’m using this article to explore the scope of the crisis and the efforts being made to combat it.

Crisis situation

With its vast coastlines and busy cities the country faces a mounting problem to tackle plastic pollution.

My family and I spent four weeks in the Philippines last year and it was evident to me how things have changed since I left the country in 2004.

Laurence and his family during a visit to the Philippines last year, taking in a picturesque spot in Bohol, which is dedicated to growing its forests back

When I visited my old family home, once one of very few properties along the river, I saw how many more houses had now been built there, and with it, how much more rubbish was floating in the water.

The increasing amount of waste in areas like this severely affects marine ecosystems, fisheries, tourism and public health.

The geography of the Philippines is a big factor. The country is made up of more than 7,600 islands, with an extensive coastline that makes it highly vulnerable to marine pollution.

Oceans and rivers - like the one close to where I grew up - are often clogged with plastic debris, from microplastics to larger single-use items like bottles, straws, and food packaging. This debris pollutes local waters and also travels across the ocean, contributing to the global plastic crisis.

Causes of plastic pollution

There are many reasons for the plastic problem in the Philippines, both systemic and cultural. Here are a few key factors:

1. Single-use plastic: Many Filipinos rely on sachets for everything, from shampoo to condiments. There’s huge poverty in the Philippines and so many people have to use affordable and convenient items. This creates a massive waste management challenge. Unlike larger packaging, sachets are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills, rivers and oceans. In some communities, dumping waste directly into rivers is common, as I witnessed last year.
2. Poor waste management: While many local governments have programmes for waste collection and recycling schemes, these efforts often fall short, largely down to poorly maintained landfills. There’s also issues with some waste disposal infrastructure, with plastic leaking into rivers and seas.
3. Population: Rapid urban growth and the concentration of people in coastal areas have placed further pressure on the country’s waste management systems.

The impacts of plastic pollution

The impact on the environment in the Philippines is really serious. Marine life is badly affected, with fish, birds and marine mammals ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic waste. Coral reefs are also covered by plastic debris, reducing their ability to support marine biodiversity.

Plastic pollution really undermines the fishing industry too, which is a major concern for Filipinos, who rely so much on the food and income it brings. The contamination of fish stocks presents serious risks to food safety and people’s health, as plastics carry toxic chemicals that can enter our food chain.

Bags of plastic rubbish dumped in a public area in the Philippines

The tourism sector is threatened by plastic covered beaches and polluted water, with parts of beaches having to be closed for waste clean ups.

And only very recently, the Philippines was hit by a typhoon and had two months of rainfall in 24 hours. It caused huge floods, with drainage impacted by the amount of plastic rubbish clogging the system.

Solutions and ongoing efforts

There are some initiatives aimed at dealing with the crisis, with the authorities, businesses and civil society groups working together to create solutions.

1. Better waste management: Local governments are being encouraged to improve their waste management systems. Some cities have successfully implemented them, where people are being educated about the importance of recycling and composting.
2. Targeting plastic: Several cities and surrounding areas have started implementing bans on single-use plastics. These initiatives are not nationwide yet but they are creating a shift in how people make choices when it comes to eco-friendly alternatives.
3. Corporate responsibility: Businesses are being asked to take more responsibility when it comes to plastic waste. Some companies have launched “plastic offset” schemes, where they recover and recycle an equivalent amount of plastic to what they produce. Others have committed to reducing or ending single-use plastic packaging in their supply chains.
4. Grassroots initiatives: Environmental groups and local communities play a big role in fighting plastic pollution. Organisations like ‘Plastic-Free Philippines’ and ‘The Plastic Flamingo’ (PLAF) are working to educate the public, organise beach cleanups and develop solutions to tackle the issue. When I was at school in the Philippines, initiatives like these were so important. As part of the school council, we used to organise monthly rubbish collections at the local rivers. Educating young people about the importance of nature and the environment will be a vital step to solve the problem.
5. Part of the global effort: The Philippines is collaborating with other countries and international organisations to address plastic pollution on a larger scale. It has signed many agreements aimed at reducing marine plastic debris and has partnered with groups like the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to strengthen its waste management policies.

Thoughts moving forward

We may be over 6,500 miles away but what’s happening in our home country is a big deal for me and my family.

When we visited last year, I saw for myself how things had changed. My two brothers live there with their families and for them, and for us, I hope the steps taken to tackle this problem will start making a difference.

The Philippines and will always be home to my wife and I, and our daughter. We will be watching with hope and interest and doing all we can from afar to play our part.

References

• blog.cleanhub.com/extended-producer-responsibility-philippines
• earth.org/philippines-plastic
• www.eco-business.com/news/why-plastic-clogged-philippines-must-face-up-to-dearth-ofwaste-disposal-and-recycling