DENR forms working group to focus on plastic recycling
Inquirer file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) program, has launched a working group to look into the recycling of flexible plastics to extend its life cycle and prevent it from clogging landfills or the environment.
“This is an opportunity to find innovative solutions to recycling flexible plastics and reducing plastic waste at source, to create lasting change in our communities,” Environment Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna said in a statement.
“The DENR will continuously work with this group and with various partners at the local level to sustain the momentum built through this convening,” he said.
According to the European Environment Agency, flexible plastics are “plastics that can be scrunched easily in your hand” and these are mainly used in packaging, building and construction, as well as agriculture.
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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which serves as the NPAP secretariat, said in a press statement last week that flexible plastics is a “primary component” of plastic pollution and “remain a critical challenge for the Philippines.”
Citing a 2021 World Bank study, the UNDP pointed out that the country uses an estimated 163 million sachets daily, which is linked to its “rapid urbanization and large low-income population.”
The same study also found that around $790 million to $890 million (P44 billion to P50 billion) of potential material value from recyclable plastics is lost to the local economy each year due to several structural challenges.
These challenges include high logistics and electricity costs, intense competition from the informal recycling industry and the inability of small and medium enterprises to meet the demands of multinational buyers when it comes to recycled plastic.
Downward pressure
The use of “heavy, low-value and hard-to-recycle” flexible packaging, which “represents 61 percent of the plastic packaging units entering the Philippine market,” have also caused a “downward pressure” in the country’s collected-for-recycling rates.
“Plastic waste has a low recycling rate with waste management infrastructure lacking. Existing recycling centers typically process rigid plastics, which can be exchanged for cash or other incentives,” the UNDP said.
“Moreover, food-grade plastic recycling is limited. As a result, plastic wastes, particularly flexible plastics, may end up in landfills or in the environment,” it said.
With the newly established working group that will be co-led by DENR and Nestlé Philippines, stakeholders will “explore innovative recycling technologies and infrastructure for flexible plastics, including food-grade plastic recycling.”
A key focus of the group will be “fostering cross-sector collaboration” to promote a “circular economy” for flexible plastics. Circular economy is a concept that focuses on minimizing waste by extending the life cycle of a product.
“The launch of the first working group on flexible plastic recycling is a significant step in integrating flexible plastics into the circular economy and enhancing upstream solutions to reduce plastic use,” said UNDP Philippines resident representative Selva Ramachandran.
“At UNDP, we know that it is critical to bring different sectors together so that we can ensure meaningful collaboration between stakeholders and amplify our impact,” he said. /cb
