Munti eyes ban on cellophane bags, plastic cups

MANILA, Philippines -  The city of Muntinlupa will amend its year-old anti-plastic ordinance to ban cellophane bags and plastic cups, an official said yesterday.

City public information chief Omar Acosta said small stores and market vendors are “abusing” the use of the bags, locally called “plastic labo.” He said the bags were initially exempted from the ban so they can be used for wet goods, but some vendors also used them to wrap dry products.

There is no exact date yet on when the city council will tweak Ordinance 10-109. But once amended, consumers will have to use alternative containers for wet products like fish.

The amendment, Acosta added, is also in line with the city’s plan to expand the plastic ban, which took effect on Jan. 18, 2011.

“The plan is really to ban all plastic products including cellophane bags and plastic cups. But the city has to do it gradually so the people can easily adjust,” Acosta said.

Muntinlupa was the first to ban plastic and polystyrene use in Metro Manila. Acosta said they are glad that other cities – Makati, Las Piñas and Marikina – have followed their lead.

He added that reduced plastic use has helped them address their flood problem.