ILOILO City – Plastic beverage bottles were the most common waste collected during the recent International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day in Western Visayas, emphasizing the growing problem of marine pollution in the region.
On September 21, 2024, volunteers across the region gathered to participate in the global initiative, collecting 7,001 plastic beverage bottles, making it the leading waste item.
This was followed by 5,715 plastic grocery bags and 5,277 food wrappers, including those from coffee and chips.
In total, the cleanup covered over 34 kilometers of coastline and collected 10,892.97 kilograms of trash.
Other waste items included plastic sachets of detergent and shampoo (3,368 pieces), glass beverage bottles (2,379 pieces), plastic bottle caps (1,864 pieces), and paper cups and plates (1,568 pieces).
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in partnership with 160 organizations, led the effort in Western Visayas.
The cleanup also aimed to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of single-use plastics, which are heavily linked to the region’s sachet-based economy.
“The growing use of plastics in our daily lives has contributed to this massive waste collection along coastal areas during ICC 2024, and this shows us the need to continue engaging in proper waste disposal,” said Raul Lorilla, OIC regional executive director of DENR.
The event, themed “Clean Seas for Blue Economy,” sought to promote sustainable ocean use and protect coastal communities’ livelihoods dependent on the marine environment./PN
