While plastic bags are useful in our daily lives, our high dependence on single-use plastic has significantly contributed to environmental pollution. In October 2020, 125,191 kilograms of garbage collected by Cebu City turned out to be plastic products clogging the rivers and waterways. This amount of garbage is roughly equivalent to 2,503 sacks of rice. All these plastics that are left unrecycled, uncollected, and untreated go to the waterways and pollute sewage systems and marine life. 

78% of the 13 tons of garbage collected by the Cebu City Coastal Management Task Force (CMTF) during a 4-hour cleanup in June 2021 was plastic waste. The pandemic has only increased plastic use, with plastic waste contributing to at least 30% of the total waste in the City. From surgical face masks, disposable gloves, and medical PPEs, the problem of single-use plastics in the city remains unresolved.

The road to a Cebu City FREE from single-use plastics will entail a collaborative process that must focus on defanging the convenience and accessibility of plastic. While there is an existing ban on single-use plastics in Cebu City, WE CALL FOR AN EXPANSION OF THE BAN on single-use plastic that will create a more significant reduction in plastic usage and waste. With the current CLIMATE CRISIS, drastic measures are needed for significant results. 

Towards a plastic-free Cebu, magpadayon ta tanan!