One of the pending bills by the Congress is the Senate Bill No.

1866, which is known to be the Plastic Straw

and Stirrer Ban of 2018. It was introduced by Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros Baraquel on July 5,
2018 but still pending in the committee as of July 25, 2018. This Senate Bill is an act prohibiting the use of
plastic straws and stirrers in restaurants and other establishments. The exemption is that food service
establishments may provide suitable beverage straws to a person that requires a straw due to a disability
or medical condition, according to Section 5 of this bill. There is a corresponding penalty for food
establishments which will be caught providing plastic straws and stirrers, as stated in the Section 7 of this
bill. These two may appear small in size and deemed the least among plastic products that contribute to
the plastic crisis, they may however be considered unnecessary items in our everyday lives. In line with
this, there are other reusable alternatives such as metal and bamboo which are already available in the
market. The bill also seeks to complement R.A. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, by way
of eliminating certain plastic goods thereby facilitating waste reduction. Likewise, it envisions a mind-shift
among the public in their ways of consumption that puts important regard for the environment.

Section 9. All fines collected as a result of the implementation of this Act shall automatically be allocated
to the ocean and other water system-rehabilitation programs of the DENR.

Another pending bill by the Congress is the Senate Bill No. 2076, which is the Regulation of Waste
Treatment Technology Act. It was introduced by Senator Vicente Sotto III on October 15, 2018 but still
pending in the committee as of November 12, 2018. It is an act regulating the use of treatment technology
for the municipal and hazardous wastes, repealing for the purpose section 20 of Republic Act No. 8749,
entitled the "Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999." One of the effective and sustainable waste treatment
technologies that are being adopted by many countries all over the world is the Waste-to-Energy
incineration method. Energy-from-waste is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity
and/or heat from the incineration of waste. However, no matter how ideal and beneficial the system is,
the Philippines cannot adhere to the WTE system because of the ban on incineration Section 20 of
Republic Act No. 8749. Thus, Section 20 of the said law is being repealed to allow regulated thermal and
other treatment technologies for the disposal of municipal and hazardous wastes or for the processing of
any material for fuel.

Also, this bill imposes specific standards of thermal treatment units and levies responsibility to the owners
and operators of such. Different incentives such as fiscal, non-fiscal, grants and financial assistance
programs shall also be provided to the registered enterprises that will be investing in waste treatment
facilities.

ADDITIONAL:

The term WTE is commonly used in specific reference to incineration which burns completely
combusted waste at ultra-high temperatures allowing for energy recovery. Modern incineration facilities
use pollution control equipment to prevent the release of emissions into the environment. Currently
incineration is the only WTE technology that is economically viable and operationally feasible at
commercial scale.
Incineration- a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in
waste materials. Incineration and other high-temperature waste treatment systems are described as
"thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas and heat.

Thermal treatment- any waste treatment technology that involves high temperatures in the processing of
the waste feedstock. Commonly this involves the combustion of waste materials; a remedial technique
where solid materials such as sediments, soil or sludge, are heated to increase the mobility and facilitate
the extraction of organic contaminants.

Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) is the process of generating energy in the form of
electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment ofwaste, or the processing of waste into a fuel source.
WtE is a form of energy recovery.

Reference/s:

http://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=17&q=SBN-1866

http://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=17&q=SBN-2076