January is Zero Waste Month where promoting proper waste segregation and effective waste management.
According to Mary Grace Bannagao of the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) Laguna, it is crucial for individuals to cultivate zero waste habits within their homes and schools, as this significantly contributes to local waste management efforts.
“Garbage must be sorted at the household level before being thrown; we are responsible for managing our waste. Naturally, it also matters a great deal when our parents use these easy techniques at home, as this will greatly benefit our nature,” she said.
In addition to instilling zero waste values at home, Bannagao underscores the role of schools in cultivating environmental consciousness among young people. She regards the inclusion of comprehensive environmental management, tree planting, and waste management in the school curriculum as crucial in shaping students' awareness and responsibility in preserving the environment.
“Comprehensive environmental management, planting trees, and garbage management are all part of the school's curriculum. Students become conscious in the environment and eventually adopt what they learn in class and practice it in their home,” Bannagao said.
According to PG-ENRO Laguna, one of the primary challenges faced by local governments is the abundance of plastic bag waste.
Bannagao urges the public to prioritize the use of eco-friendly bags, which are both durable and sustainable, as an alternative to plastic bags.
She added: “Our choice of materials will ultimately determine how sustainable or not our trash contributions are, it will also appear that this will become our way of life at our house.”
Bannagao believes that everyone's contribution, no matter how small, plays a vital role in preserving the environment for future generations.
She stresses the importance of understanding that even the smallest household tasks, individual lifestyles, and consumption habits can have a significant impact on environmental management. With this awareness, she believes that individuals can make more informed decisions and adopt more mindful daily practices.
Zero Waste Month was declared in January through Presidential Proclamation No. 760, signed by former President Benigno S. Aquino III in 2014. The proclamation aims to guide people in transitioning their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where discarded materials can be repurposed as resources for others.
This year's Zero Waste Month theme is "Sustainable Waste Management in Livable Communities: Zero Waste to Philippine Waters by 2040." (AM/PIA-4A)
Usapang PIA is a weekly radio program by the Philippine Information Agency Laguna, airing every Friday from 11:00 am to 11:30 am on DZJV 1458 kHz Radyo Calabarzon and the Philippine Information Agency CALABARZON and PIA Laguna Facebook pages.
