The continuous journey of the City Government of San Fernando towards becoming a “zero waste” city was once again featured in the international stage, through the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development held last week in Bangkok, Thailand.
As part of the goal of attaining an extensive sustainable development in the world by 2030, the forum focused on showcasing several zero-waste systems and practices of different cities and municipalities across the globe—including San Fernando’s—to private and public institutions.
For San Fernando’s part, Marilen Malabanan, officer-in-charge of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, along with City Councilor BJ Lagman, discussed the City’s long-term programs, projects, and activities that served as factors in reaching a current 81-percent waste diversion rate, one of the highest marks in Asia.
These include the active implementation of Ecological Solid Waste Management Act; functional Materials Recovery Facilities in barangays, subdivisions, schools, and establishments; partnership with local media networks, youth groups, and suppliers for the roll-out of environmental programs; and, regular conduct of inspection and enforcement operations, among others.
Organized by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, this feature was only one of the most recent international appearances of the City Government’s zero waste practices.
Others were during the International Zero Waste Cities Conference in Malaysia and during the showing of a United States-produced documentary on plastic pollution, “The Story of Plastic,” both staged in October 2019.