Restaurants and hotels in Quezon City will soon be disallowed from using disposable packaging materials as well as single-use plastics, according to a new city ordinance.
Ordinance No. 2876 states restaurants and hotels are prohibited from distributing single-use plastic and disposable materials such as plastic utensils; paper/plastic cups, plates, straws, and other single-use plastic and disposable materials including styrofoam to customers dining in their establishments.
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Hotels, likewise, are prohibited from distributing soap, shampoo, and "other items used for hygienic purposes in sachets and single-use containers."
The ordinance, introduced by QC District I Councilor Dorothy Delarmente, said, "It is hereby declared the policy of the city to promote sustainable development, implement sustainable practices thereby prohibiting the use/distribution of single-use plastics/disposable materials including cutlery in all restaurants and hotels in the city."
Fast food restaurants are included in the ordinance.
In a joint press conference with EcoWaste Coalition on Sunday, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said, "The local government of Quezon City is taking this action to prevent and reduce the generation of waste materials that are hardly recovered and recycled, and to promote sustainable practices, especially in the city’s thriving hotel and restaurant industry."
Belmonte said she expects a drop in the volume of the city's residual and plastic waste once the ordinance's implementing rules and regulations are passed.
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Penalties for non-compliance will be imposed: a fine of ₱1,000 for the first offense; a fine of ₱3,000 for the second offense, revocation of Environmental Clearance and issuance of a Cease and Desist Order; and a fine of ₱5,000, revocation of Business Permit and issuance of a closure order.
The ordinance was passed by the city council on September 30 and signed by the mayor on October 15.
The ordinance shall take effect 90 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
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This article first appeared on CNN Philippines.
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