Mayor bans single-use plastic within City Hall, city government offices

The use of single-use plastic items will be prohibited within the premises of Baguio City Hall and other city government offices outside city hall beginning August 25, 2023.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued Memorandum No. 66, series of 2023 for city government employees and service providers such as canteen and store concessionaires as well as food caterers including office visitors to comply with his order.

Single-use plastic “items include, but are not limited to plastic cups/bottles, disposable cutlery and plates/food containers/meal boxes, plastic straws, plastic stirrers, Styrofoam containers, plastic sauce containers and any other forms of single-use plastic,” the memorandum reads.

Alternate, eco-friendly options such as reusable or washable bottles/plates/food containers/cups, utensils, biodegradable or compostable packing and other sustainable alternatives shall be used in place of single-use plastic items.

City government caterers and office visitors hiring caterers for events or meetings shall prioritize sustainable practices in their food packaging by using recyclable or biodegradable materials.

Exception is considered for plastics exclusively used for primary packaging such as for sugar, condiments and the like, only if there are no alternative materials that can possibly be used.

The memorandum was issued in an effort to promote environment-friendly workplace and sustainable consumption practices by reducing the volume of single-use plastic items that goes to landfills and therefore decrease greenhouse emissions associated with their production.

“This action aims to protect our environment and health, conserve resources, reduce plastic pollution, and set a positive example for our economy,” the mayor said.

In 2017, the city government approved the implementation of Ordinance No. 35 regulating the sale, distribution and use of plastic carry/shopping bags and Styrofoam in the Baguio.

The ordinance prohibits business establishments to provide to any customer any plastic bag or polystyrene foam container for goods or items purchased or serve food or drink, take out or dine in, to customers in polystyrene containers or in plastic bags.

The same ordinance mandates all city government schools and offices to maintain a “No Plastic Bag, No Styrofoam” policy in their office or school premises including government sponsored events and functions.

Violators will be reprimanded or immediate closure for establishments without business permit for the first offense; P1,000 fine for the second offense; P3,000 fine and eight hours community service for the third offense; P5,000 fine and suspension of business permit for six months on fourth offense; and, non-renewal of business permit or closure of business for the habitual offender. – JMPS