The Zero Waste Baguio Incorporated with the EcoWaste Coalition held a forum on the Health Effects of Plastics and Other Emerging Pollutants and of Burning of Waste at SLU on March 21, 2025
BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The city of Baguio is strengthening its commitment to the circular economy, an approach that aims to minimize plastic waste through innovative resource management.
The initiative led by Zero Waste Baguio in partnership with the city government, focuses on reducing the generation of garbage and promoting sustainable practices among residents.
What we are advocating now is the circular economy, wherein we have 10Rs…Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Recycle, Repurpose, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Recover, and Reengineer,” said Zero Waste Baguio president Maria Victoria Tenefrancia as she emphasized the importance of embracing a zero-waste lifestyle.
“We’re letting people realize that it is possible to eliminate or reduce single-use plastics. Ever since we had this circular economy together with the city government, we have already reduced the generation of garbage to 50 tons a day, and that’s a lot,” Tenefrancia said.
A major component of the initiative is the Green Economy Programme of the Philippines (GEPP), an ongoing project by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to Tenefrancia, this project is being piloted in five barangays in Baguio City to showcase the feasibility of a circular economy at the community level.
Beyond environmental benefits, the shift toward a circular economy also has economic advantages. With a significant reduction in waste transport costs, the city can reallocate funds to essential public services.
“Whatever money we save from transporting our garbage, we can now use for social services, education, health, livelihood, that we can provide to our communities, instead of just managing our solid waste,” Tenefrancia said.
Zero Waste Baguio, in collaboration with Saint Louis University and EcoWaste Coalition, organized a forum on March 21 at SLU Baguio titled ‘The Health Effects of Plastics and Other Emerging Pollutants and the Burning of Waste’ to raise public awareness about the serious health and environmental risks caused by plastic pollution, particularly microplastics.
Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol of the Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation, discussed the dangers of microplastics to human health and the environment. He underscored the urgency of shifting away from plastic dependency and adopting alternative storage and packaging solution.
He urged the public to take proactive steps in reducing plastic consumption. (JDP/DEG/Trisha Reign Batoon- PIA CAR- SLU Intern)
