EcoWaste Coalition Marks 25 Years of Service to the People and the Environment
(DENR cites EcoWaste as “steadfast ally and partner”)
In Photo: (2nd Row from l-r photo) The Eco Waste Coalition cites its founders and incorporators from various public interest groups . The staff of Ecowaste Coalition dedicate themselves to the fulfillment of the organization and (Lower Photo) Ecowaste Coalition’s 25th anniversary celebration’s group photo.
7 February 2025, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition celebrated its historic 25th year of service to the Filipino people and Mother Earth by recognizing its indispensable partners from various sectors and affirming its commitment to keep on working with greater fervor and action towards the envisioned zero waste and toxics-free society.
Commemorative events around the theme “EcoWasteCoalition@25 Padayon: Sulong sa Hamon ng Panahon” took place during the recently concluded Zero Waste Month in Cebu City on January 15, Davao City on the 22nd and Manila City on the 31st where founders, individual advocates, and partner institutions and groups from the government, industry, civil society, academia and scientific community were gratefully honored with an “Award of Recognition”
At the January 31 recognition and thanksgiving event held in the historic Intramuros, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, represented by Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna, said: “We acknowledge with immense pride the EcoWaste Coalition as a steadfast ally and partner of the DENR. Together, we promoted ecologically sound alternative solutions that prioritize public health and safeguard our environment.”
Respected incorporators, past and current presidents, NGO representatives to the National Solid Waste Management Commission, informal waste recyclers, and multi-stakeholder partners, including donors, were feted for teaming up with the EcoWaste Coalition to bring a shared purpose to fruition – a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for all Filipinos, especially the children and youth.
Staunch civil society partners for a toxics-free and sustainable future were fittingly commended, including the Action on Smoking and Health(ASH)/FCAP, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy, Greenpeace Southeast Asia (GPSEA), Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), Oceana Philippines, Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Save Sierra Madre Movement Network Alliance (SSMNA), and the Wonjin Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH).
For their trust, respect and cooperation, the group likewise honored national and local government partners, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Intramuros Administration (IA) and the local authorities of Baguio, Davao, Manila, Pasig, Quezon and Trece Martires Cities.
Partners from the donor community were equally acknowledged for providing essential resources to support the group’s programs and projects aimed at protecting the environment and uplifting the lives of vulnerable sectors, namely, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Marisla Foundation, Mission Alliance, Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN), Plastic Solutions Fund (PSF), Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Vision Philippines, and the Women in Waste’s Economic Empowerment (WWEE) Project.
Partners in the academic and scientific community were recognized, specifically, the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health – Center for Research and Innovation, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas, Ecoteneo-Davao, Lasallian Community Development Center, National Poison Management and Control Center, Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC), and the Philippine Society of Clinical and Occupational Toxicology (PSCOT). Partners in the media, including Journal Online, Pressenza International and Jonathan Mayuga, were recognized as well.
For their strong and solid partnership in advancing the elimination of lead paint, the Philippine Paint and Coatings Association, SCS Global Services, IPEN and the following companies, which applied and passed the third-party Lead Safe Paint® Certification were likewise recognized: Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc.; Davies Paints Philippines, Inc.; Sycwin Coating & Wires, Inc.; Asian Coatings Philippines, Inc.; Roosevelt Chemical, Inc./Triton Philippines; FH Colors & Coatings Corp./A-Plus Paints; and the Treasure Island Industrial Corp.
Never to be forgotten, the EcoWaste Coalition paid tribute to deceased collaborators and mentors from various fields of advocacy and expertise, namely, Luz Sabas (Zero Waste Champion 2005), Roy Alvarez (Zero Waste Hero 2015), Odette Alcantara, Dr. Visitacion Antonio, Bernie Aragoza, Dr. Erle Castillo, Ester Perez de Tagle, Lorenzo de Vera, Elsie Brandes-de Veyra, Usec. Vic Dimagiba, Joel Escandor, Mercy Fabros, Ben Galindo, Yhet Garcia, Romy Hidalgo, Beng Hilario, Anna Kapunan, Doy Medes, Fr. Pete Montallana, Corazon Mustapha, Esther Pacheco, Dr. Metodio Palaypay, Ofelia Panganiban, Ding Reyes, Sixto Roxas, Jr., Romy Saclolo, Isagani Serrano, and Roberto Verzola.
Together with its members and partners, past and present, the EcoWaste Coalition achieved major wins for public health and the environment, including the enactment and enforcement of national laws and local ordinances promoting reduced waste volume and toxicity. With its allies, the group pushed for the implementation of the ban on medical waste incinerators, thwarted attempts to revoke the waste incineration ban, and stalled numerous problematic waste-to-energy incinerator projects. After a long delay, hundreds of polluting open and controlled dumpsites were finally shut down. With its members, the EcoWaste Coalition proved that zero waste is possible through innovative demonstration projects at the local level and in huge gatherings like the 4th World Meeting of Families and the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, while relentlessly campaigning for an ecological and waste-free conduct of faith-inspired festivities like the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene, Undas and Christmas.
In defense of national dignity and sovereignty, the EcoWaste Coalition and its members compelled the governments of Japan and the Philippines to address the controversial toxic waste trade provision of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). Civil society’s vigilant advocacy against foreign waste dumping pushed duty-bearers to re-export hazardous waste shipments to their sources: 69 container vans from Canada and 364 container vans from South Korea.
Together with its affiliates and allies, the EcoWaste Coalition backed the ongoing destruction and treatment of the country’s stockpiles of highly toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using a proven non-combustion technology. With support from DENR and UNIDO, the EcoWaste Coalition worked with e-waste dismantlers and local authorities for the establishment of facilities where computers and TVs with cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and plastic casings containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) can be safely dismantled and managed. This exemplary collaboration led to the collection of 1,040 tons of toxic CRTs and 90 tons of plastic casings with high levels of PBDEs for environmentally sound recycling and disposal. A concert promoting e-waste awareness and its safe management drew a record crowd of 15,000 youth participants and collected over eight tons of e-waste.
Aside from e-waste dismantlers, the EcoWaste Coalition worked with women in the informal recycling sector, training 504 of them under the group’s Basic Business Empowerment Skills Training (BBEST), and monitoring the graduates and their businesses.
The group also played a major role in advocating for the promulgation of chemical safety regulations, including the prohibition on endocrine disrupting bisphenol A (BPA) in baby feeding bottles and sippy cups, and the groundbreaking chemical control order banning lead in paints, which won the Future Policy Award in 2021. The latter paved the way for policies on mandatory procurement and use of lead-safe paints to be enforced in schools, local government units, and social welfare institutions. Thus contributing to the reduction of lead-based paint hazards, a major source of childhood lead exposure.
Through the years, the EcoWaste Coalition’s untiring investigative work has resulted in hundreds of consumer products being flagged, banned or recalled, including toys and childcare articles laden with phthalates and heavy metals; baby wipes with skin sensitizing preservatives; skin lightening products with mercury; and paints, school supplies, tumblers and promotional items by two of the country’s top fast food chain restaurants with lead content above the legal limit.
The EcoWaste Coalition was founded in January 2000 at a conference convened by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and Greenpeace to address the nation’s struggle against waste and pollution. As much remains to be done, the EcoWaste Coalition has reiterated its commitment to persevere and succeed in its mission by embracing zero waste, environmental health and justice, and sustainable development principles and practices — all for the benefit of the people and Mother Earth. (PR)
