By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) asked candidates and local government units (LGUs) to dispose of campaign materials used during the recently-conducted national and local elections.
In a statement, the DENR said that election-related wastes will expectedly “increase the country’s projected waste by 30 to 40% this year.”
DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna urged the candidates to encourage their supporters and volunteers to help take down campaign materials and dispose of them properly.
“Win or lose, these candidates must consider the long-term consequences of their campaign materials in the environment. Therefore, they must encourage their supporters and volunteers to take down these materials, especially those made of plastic, and dispose [of] these properly,” Sampulna added.
Sampulna said they also disseminated the advisory with the local government units and the Commission on Elections to assure the candidates will strictly enforce their heed in removing campaign materials after the campaign period.
He also recommended the recycling and upcycling campaign materials to lessen the byproducts that will be disposed of in the dumpsites. – gb
