Plastic pollution has reached the level of 14 Titanics in Philippine waters. The WWF’s three-year partnership with Grieg Organization, a Norwegian foundation, seeks to reduce waste by 50%.
In a survey undertaken by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in a project supported by the Grieg Foundation, it was found that approximately 2.15 million tons of plastic are produced each year, of which 9 percent is recycled, and 35 percent seeps into the open environment.
That total amount of plastic equals the weight of 41 Titanics. Moreover, each year, 14 of those big ships (35 percent) become plastic waste in the ocean. A critical conduit for plastic pollution to enter the oceans is thru ports with high traffic and activity levels.
“Plastics do not belong in our oceans. Sometimes we forget that we are part of a world that is a living, breathing organism on which our own well-being and survival depend,” According to Katherine Custodio, Executive Director of WWF-Philippines.
“There are three big, important things we need to do together and at scale to truly address the problem of plastic pollution. First is to close the tap by reducing the amount of plastic we produce. Second is to close the loop by improving recycling, reuse, re-design and doing some very exciting, innovative work looking at alternatives. The third is to stop plastic waste from leaking into the environment. We are very pleased to be working alongside partners such as the Grieg Foundation and Grieg Group of Companies on work that will contribute to an end-changing impact for our country. ” Custodio added.
The World Wildlife Foundation has partnered with Grieg Foundation on a three-year project to reduce plastic waste by 50% in three Philippine ports, namely the Manila North Port, the Port of Batangas, and the Port of Cagayan de Oro. The project will contribute to the national plan of action on marine waste. Additionally, the WWF receives vital feedback from Grieg Group firms.
An important part of the partnership’s ‘Clean Ports, Clean Oceans: Improving Port Waste Management in the Philippines’ project is to conduct a Solid Waste Management Baseline Study in Philippine ports. The study found that approximately 114,927 kg of plastic waste is generated at the ports and 128,970 kg of plastic waste is generated from vessels.
The report attributed the amount of plastic pollution to garbage leakage from ports during collection and disposal – related to the city’s waste management system. Ports, of which there are at least 552 in the country, are a possible route for plastic garbage to enter the oceans.
WWF-Philippines determined project interventions based on the findings of the national baseline study in collaboration with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), terminal operators, communities, and concerned local government units (LGUs).
The baseline study conducted by WWF-Philippines recommends the following steps to prevent plastic pollution at ports:
- Stricter implementation and review of plans, programs, policies, and law
- Better coordination and teamwork among stakeholders
- Better data management framework
- Installation of properly designed and fully functioning Materials Recovery Facilities
- Installation of trash traps at drainage outfalls when necessary
- Monitoring and utilization of plastic wastes
- IEC campaigns
- Standardization of waste bin color- coding scheme
“Marine litter is one of the fastest-growing environmental problems in the world and threatens biodiversity, ecosystems and livelihoods. In the Grieg Group, we have committed ourselves to be part of the solutions in restoring our oceans. We are happy to have partnered with WWF, trying our best to solve a critical challenge to life below water. Hopefully, we are able to create solutions that can be used in ports worldwide”, says Gry Larsen, Leader Sustainability and Public Affairs, Grieg Group
WWF-Philippines will work with the concerned PPA – Port Management Offices (PMOs) in Manila North Port, Port of Batangas, and Port of Cagayan de Oro to find and implement solutions. The project will document these ideas for other Philippine ports to implement them to combat plastic pollution.
About Grieg Foundation and the Grieg Group
The Grieg Foundation is a Norwegian non-profit organization founded in 2002 in Bergen by the Grieg family. For decades, the Grieg family has been concerned about leaving a legacy thru charitable contributions and support of humanitarian, social, and artistic endeavors. They are committed to enhancing future generations’ lives by supporting national and international programs and activities that result in positive change for individuals and communities. For more information on the Grieg Foundation and the projects it supports, please visit www.griegfoundation.com.
The Grieg Group is descended from a proud and long-standing nautical legacy that began in 1884 with Joachim Grieg’s shipbroking enterprise in Bergen. Today, the Grieg Group is involved in shipping, logistics, marine innovation, finance, shipbroking, and seafood. The Grieg Family (75% ownership) and the Grieg Foundation jointly own the Grieg Group (25%). For additional information about the Grieg Group’s activities, please visit www.grieg.no.
About WWF
With over 5 million supporters and a global network active in nearly 100 countries, WWF is one of the world’s largest and most regarded independent conservation organizations. The WWF’s mission is to halt the Earth’s natural environment’s degradation and foster a future in which humans coexist peacefully with nature. It accomplishes this by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring the sustainable use of renewable natural resources, and promoting pollution reduction and wasteful consumption.
Since 1997, WWF-Philippines has operated as a national affiliate of the WWF network, implementing various conservation programs to help safeguard some of Asia’s most biologically valuable habitats. WWF-Philippines seeks to enhance the lives of Filipinos by developing climate change solutions, implementing sustainable livelihood programs, and conserving the country’s most diverse marine and terrestrial environments.
To read more about WWF and the Solid Waste Management Baseline Study in Philippine Ports, please visit wwf.org.ph/what-we-do/plastics/cleanportscleanoceans/.
Source: WWF-Philippines
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