recycling | The Adobo Chronicles

TARLAC CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – For two years, containers of supposedly recycled plastic imported from Canada by a Philippine firm have been sitting at the Port of Manila after it was discovered that the import was, in fact, toxic waste.

At last, the toxic waste found a burial place in a landfill owned by the Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC) located in the town of Capas in President Aquino’s home province of Tarlac.

Everything was going smoothly until Tarlac Governor Victor Yap asked MCWMC to suspend disposal of the illegally imported trash until he is presented with a certification from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) explaining the nature of the toxic waste. Yap said his demand to see the DENR certification was his response to the complaints that he and other Tarlac officials had been receiving from residents of Bamban and Capas towns. Residents there complained of stench, noise, dust and mud as trucks transported garbage, he said.

President Aquino, in a recent state visit to Canada, failed to convince the Canadian government to take back the toxic waste.

So, in an effort to save face and displaying a heroic determination to put an end to this dragged-out controversy, Aquino offered that the toxic waste be buried at Hacienda Luisita, an agricultural estate owned by his family. Hacienda Luisita is a sugar plantation located in Tarlac that is no stranger to the decades-long controversy regarding land reform.

Aquino’s announcement could be the biggest and most important legacy of his presidency.

Aquino’s sister, actress and television host Kris, was understandably upset by her brother’s decision. Still, she says she respects the decision.

Los Angeles, California – Plastic bags are already banned in many cities and counties in California, but a comprehensive and radical proposal by legislators could make all plastics a thing of the past in this environmentally-conscious sunny state.

The proposal, supported by a bi-partisan group of lawmakers but vehemently opposed by private business, would totally ban all forms of plastic – from grocery and shopping bags to smart phone cases to debit and credit cards. Yes, you heard that right: debit and credit cards.

State senators have argued that it is not enough to ban single-use or even reusable plastics. “We must also target the source and cause of the demand for these non-biodegradable items,” they said.

“Almost everyone uses debit and credit cards – also known simply as ‘plastics’ – to shop,” the senators pointed out, ” so if plastic cards are also banned, people will stop shopping and there would be no need for plastic bags or goods. It’s a simple case of supply and demand.”