By Brian Jules Campued
The EcoWaste Coalition on Sunday called on the Catholic faithful to observe a Holy Week free from single-use plastics, as the International Day of Zero Waste also falls on Black Saturday.
The environment watchdog’s zero waste campaigner, Ochie Tolentino, reminded those who will take part in religious activities during the last week of Lent or those who will go out of town to reflect on how plastic pollution affects the people and planet.
“We appeal to the faithful to steer away from the insidious throw-away culture that is turning our lands and oceans into dumping grounds and observe climate-friendly and SUP-free practices for the sake of our environment,” Tolentino said.
In previous years, the environment group had monitored widespread littering at churches and pilgrimage sites with disposable plastic items, cigarette butts, and food containers among the most common wastes.
“We hope that unlike the previous Holy Weeks, the pilgrims will take ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ to heart, lessen their usage of SUPs and never drop any litter during their observance of the Holy Week,” Tolentino added.
The Coalition urged Catholic devotees to practice an environment-friendly Holy Week by practicing the following:
- Avoid using and carelessly disposing single-use plastics, especially at pilgrimage sites
- Minimize the use of plastic tarpaulins for announcing Holy Week activities as these may contain cadmium and lead which are toxic substances
- Segregate waste materials at its source—recycle non-biodegradable discards while compost organic or biodegradable materials
- For those taking a vacation out of town, follow the eco-mantra: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.”
- Observe a litter-free and smoke-free environment during the conduct of Lent-related events such as Senakulo and Alay Lakad
- Pick up trash along the route of your neighborhood’s Station of the Cross on Good Friday
According to EcoWaste, littering is banned under the Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Violators can be fined from P300 to P1000, be asked to perform one to 15-day community service, or be required to do both.
The International Day of Zero Waste is observed on March 30 every year which puts emphasis on the importance of intensifying waste management efforts globally as well as the need to promote sustainable consumption and production.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) noted that the world generates municipal solid waste amounting between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes, stressing that billions of people also lack access to waste collection.
Without urgent action, annual municipal solid waste production will hit 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, UNEP said.
“Waste pollution significantly threatens human well-being, economic prosperity, and the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution,” UNEP added. – avds