Reusable bags gain popularity among shoppers

MANILA, Philippines –  More people are now using eco-bags instead of plastic when going to the supermarket, the government said.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said a million people now bring with them reusable bags when shopping or doing the grocery.

“That would mean not using some six million plastic bags in a week,” he said, urging people to adopt the habit of bringing their own bags to the supermarket.

Plastic was a major contributor to loss of lives and destruction of property during the onslaught of tropical storm “Ondoy” last year, he added.

Paje said some 300,176 plastic bags have been fished out of estuaries and rivers clogged with 756,986 kilograms of garbage/debris.

The government is closely coordinating with the plastics industry to help them remove garbage in rivers and estuaries.

“They’ve already pledged to support us in this endeavor that will also promote recycling of the plastic garbage,” he added.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has launched the “Reusable Bag Campaign” to discourage the use of disposable plastic bags and promote reusable bags in groceries.

The campaign is being undertaken in cooperation with the Earth Day Network Philippines Inc., the National Solid Waste Management Commission, the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association and the Philippine Retailers Association.

Former environment secretary Elisea Gozun, Earth Day Network president, said the campaign will focus on reusable bags rather than an “anti-plastic” message.

“This is important because we do not want the consumers to become defensive,” she said. “Instead, we want them to become pro-active in becoming responsible citizens of the Earth.”

Paje said the agreement calls for a concerted effort in the shift of public consciousness from plastic bags to reusable bags to emphasize the environmental hazard posed by improper disposal of plastic bags.

The private sector will promote reusable bags by charging a fee for plastic bags during Wednesdays, give incentives to clients using reusable bags and promote the campaign through posters put up in conspicuous places in supermarkets, he added.