Post by seacid on Feb 28, 2007 12:03:27 GMT 8
Appeal made to stop burning garbage
Besides being outlawed, local green group says open burning a serious
threat to health
Business Mirror, 28 February 2007
BESIDES requesting individuals to stop playing with fire, a local group
made an appeal to avoid burning trash as the Philippines once more
marks Fire Prevention month this March.
"We join the Bureau of Fire Protection in raising public awareness and
action to prevent fires. Being an environmental group, we would like to
draw attention to the hazards of open burning and the availability of
ecological alternatives to burning trash," a coordinator of the EcoWaste
Coalition said in a statement.
Despite being outlawed by Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000, open burning remains a serious public health and
environmental threat in both urban and rural communities, the group said.
"We appeal to local government officials, specially at the barangay level,
to implement R.A. 9003, conduct information and education campaigns on the
hazards of open burning and strictly monitor compliance," Merci Ferrer,
who belonged to the coalition's Task Force on Open Burning and
Incineration, said in a statement.
Open burning goes unchecked in dumpsites, farmlands, backyards and even in
streets and parks. Unknown to many, the deliberate or spontaneous burning
of discards is like a "silent killer," discharging minuscule pollutants
that can trigger headaches, irritate the eyes, throat and skin, impair
respiratory functions and even cause cancers.
According to the coalition, burning plastics and chlorinated papers,
releases dioxins, halogenated carbons and volatile organic compounds.
Similarly, burning batteries discharges heavy metals like cadmium, lead
and mercury, while burning leaves emits carbon monoxide and benzopyrene.
Coalition mentions reasons why public
should not set fire to garbage
IN line with the country's celebration of the Fire Prevention month this
March, the EcoWaste Coalition cited five key reasons why the public should
not burn their discards.
1 OPEN BURNING IS UNLAWFUL. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of
2000 (Republic Act 9003) prohibits the open burning of waste and requires
the ecological management of discards that will not
harm the environment.
Violators can be fined from P300 to P1,000, or imprisoned from 1 to 15
days, or both.Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999 likewise bans
and penalizes the incineration of municipal, biomedical and hazardous
wastes.
2 OPEN BURNING IS TOXIC. Burning trash releases a cocktail of toxic
chemicals some of which are targeted for global elimination under the
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) such as
dioxins and furans.Burning plastics can be very problematic, with PVC
plastic specifically contributing to high emissions of dioxin, a proven
human carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC). By-product smoke, filth and ash from open burning are known
to contain particulate matters and other harmful substances.
3 OPEN BURNING POLLUTES THE FOOD SUPPLY. Dioxins and other chemicals
released when trash is burned are deposited on leafy plants that are eaten
by farm animals and ingested by fish. Studies show that dioxin accumulates
in fatty tissue and is passed to humans through our consumption of dairy
products, eggs, meat and fish.
4 OPEN BURNING WASTES RESOURCES. By setting discards ablaze, we squander
valuable resources that could have been repaired, reused, recycled or
composted. Fallen leaves and yard trimmings, for instance, could be turned
into compost to nourish depleted soils.
5 OPEN BURNING CAUSES FIRES. Open burning can cause residential, forest
and brush fires, especially during the scorching summer days.
The coalition has also come up with ten alternatives to the harmful
practice of burning trash, emphasizing the need to consume responsibly,
waste less and recycle even more.
Reduce your waste and prevent noxious odors and keep flies,
roaches and rodents under control by not mixing discards.
Reuse and recycle non-biodegradable discards such as
papers, bottles and cans as many times as you can.
Turn your biodegradable discards such as kitchen and garden
trimmings into compost that can enhance soil fertility and health.
Use second-hand, repaired and recycled products whenever
available.
Check for things that can be repaired or reused before
deciding to purchase new ones.
Bring bayong or other reusable carry bags when you shop;
refuse plastic bags.
Reduce unnecessary packaging by buying in bulk or choosing
items with the least packaging.
Avoid throw-away items. Choose products that can be washed,
stored and used again.
Repair rather than throw or replace broken things.
Give away unwanted stuff to neighbors or charities instead
of putting them into the waste bins.
Merci Ferrer
Coordinator
Health Care Without Harm - Southeast Asia
Unit 320 Eagle Court Condominium
26 Matalino Street, 1101, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: +63 2 9287572
Fax: +63 2 9262649
Mobile: +63 920 9056113
www.noharm.org
Besides being outlawed, local green group says open burning a serious
threat to health
Business Mirror, 28 February 2007
BESIDES requesting individuals to stop playing with fire, a local group
made an appeal to avoid burning trash as the Philippines once more
marks Fire Prevention month this March.
"We join the Bureau of Fire Protection in raising public awareness and
action to prevent fires. Being an environmental group, we would like to
draw attention to the hazards of open burning and the availability of
ecological alternatives to burning trash," a coordinator of the EcoWaste
Coalition said in a statement.
Despite being outlawed by Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000, open burning remains a serious public health and
environmental threat in both urban and rural communities, the group said.
"We appeal to local government officials, specially at the barangay level,
to implement R.A. 9003, conduct information and education campaigns on the
hazards of open burning and strictly monitor compliance," Merci Ferrer,
who belonged to the coalition's Task Force on Open Burning and
Incineration, said in a statement.
Open burning goes unchecked in dumpsites, farmlands, backyards and even in
streets and parks. Unknown to many, the deliberate or spontaneous burning
of discards is like a "silent killer," discharging minuscule pollutants
that can trigger headaches, irritate the eyes, throat and skin, impair
respiratory functions and even cause cancers.
According to the coalition, burning plastics and chlorinated papers,
releases dioxins, halogenated carbons and volatile organic compounds.
Similarly, burning batteries discharges heavy metals like cadmium, lead
and mercury, while burning leaves emits carbon monoxide and benzopyrene.
Coalition mentions reasons why public
should not set fire to garbage
IN line with the country's celebration of the Fire Prevention month this
March, the EcoWaste Coalition cited five key reasons why the public should
not burn their discards.
1 OPEN BURNING IS UNLAWFUL. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of
2000 (Republic Act 9003) prohibits the open burning of waste and requires
the ecological management of discards that will not
harm the environment.
Violators can be fined from P300 to P1,000, or imprisoned from 1 to 15
days, or both.Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999 likewise bans
and penalizes the incineration of municipal, biomedical and hazardous
wastes.
2 OPEN BURNING IS TOXIC. Burning trash releases a cocktail of toxic
chemicals some of which are targeted for global elimination under the
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) such as
dioxins and furans.Burning plastics can be very problematic, with PVC
plastic specifically contributing to high emissions of dioxin, a proven
human carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC). By-product smoke, filth and ash from open burning are known
to contain particulate matters and other harmful substances.
3 OPEN BURNING POLLUTES THE FOOD SUPPLY. Dioxins and other chemicals
released when trash is burned are deposited on leafy plants that are eaten
by farm animals and ingested by fish. Studies show that dioxin accumulates
in fatty tissue and is passed to humans through our consumption of dairy
products, eggs, meat and fish.
4 OPEN BURNING WASTES RESOURCES. By setting discards ablaze, we squander
valuable resources that could have been repaired, reused, recycled or
composted. Fallen leaves and yard trimmings, for instance, could be turned
into compost to nourish depleted soils.
5 OPEN BURNING CAUSES FIRES. Open burning can cause residential, forest
and brush fires, especially during the scorching summer days.
The coalition has also come up with ten alternatives to the harmful
practice of burning trash, emphasizing the need to consume responsibly,
waste less and recycle even more.
Reduce your waste and prevent noxious odors and keep flies,
roaches and rodents under control by not mixing discards.
Reuse and recycle non-biodegradable discards such as
papers, bottles and cans as many times as you can.
Turn your biodegradable discards such as kitchen and garden
trimmings into compost that can enhance soil fertility and health.
Use second-hand, repaired and recycled products whenever
available.
Check for things that can be repaired or reused before
deciding to purchase new ones.
Bring bayong or other reusable carry bags when you shop;
refuse plastic bags.
Reduce unnecessary packaging by buying in bulk or choosing
items with the least packaging.
Avoid throw-away items. Choose products that can be washed,
stored and used again.
Repair rather than throw or replace broken things.
Give away unwanted stuff to neighbors or charities instead
of putting them into the waste bins.
Merci Ferrer
Coordinator
Health Care Without Harm - Southeast Asia
Unit 320 Eagle Court Condominium
26 Matalino Street, 1101, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: +63 2 9287572
Fax: +63 2 9262649
Mobile: +63 920 9056113
www.noharm.org