Makati City will go into a full implementation of 10-year-old plastic and styrofoam ban in the city on June 20, the city announced in a press statement.
The Solid Waste Management Code of Makati was enacted in 2003 but included a grace period to allow establishments in the city to use up supplies of plastic bags and to look for sources of alternative packaging.
“I believe we have given the concerned establishments enough time to prepare for the full implementation of the plastic ban on June 20. Our deputized enforcers and members of the Plastic Monitoring Task Force are all set to conduct inspections and impose appropriate sanctions on violators of the ban,” Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. said.
The PMTF will monitor supermarkets, markets, malls, and other establishments for compliance with the ban. “The PMTF has informed me that to date, no establishment has submitted a stock inventory report on non-biodegradable materials, including single-use and carry-out plastic bags, which they are required to do quarterly,” Binay added.
Once the ban is fully implemented, establishments in Makati will be required to use biodegradable packaging.
Violations of the ban will punishable with a fine of P1,000 or imprisonment for five days to 30 days, or both at the discretion of the court. Corporations or establishments that buck the ban will be fined P5,000 or the owner may be imprisoned from 30 days to a year or both. They could also lose their business permits.
—
Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
