Metro Manila, Philippines – A total of 37,570 sacks, weighing 352,479 kilograms, of trash and debris have been collected across the country during the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported on Sunday, Sept. 22.
The DENR said the waste picked up “will be compiled to better understand the types of waste affecting the country’s waters.” This will be the guide for the country’s future conservation, waste recovery, and resource utilization strategies.
“With the ICC 2024 theme, ‘Clean Seas for Blue Economy’, this year’s cleanup not only aimed to address immediate pollution but also sought to inspire long-term behavioral changes among communities, encouraging everyone to reduce waste and participate in ongoing clean-up initiatives,” Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga said in a statement.
“As we celebrate the 30th year of the International Coastal Cleanup in the Philippines, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our coastal resources and promoting sustainable practices that protect our marine ecosystems,” she added.
Recyclable items from the trash gathered will be brought to Materials Recovery Facilities.
The DENR said about 74,000 volunteers gathered plastics and other waste materials from the 250 coastal sites on Saturday.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. blamed trash disposal practices as one of the reasons why several parts of the country suffered floods and landslides during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina.
According to environmental news website earth.org, the Philippines has the biggest share of global plastic waste to the ocean in 2019.
