Philippines Awaits Presidential Signature of Bill to Introduce EPR for Plastic Products

NOTE:
On July 22, 2022, the Philippines enacted the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, Republic Act (RA) No. 11898, which requires enterprises (producers of products generating plastic packaging waste with total assets of P100 million or more) to develop and implement an EPR program and collect plastic packaging. 
See more details in the following:
Philippines promulgates an Act introducing EPR for plastic containers and packaging

On May 26, 2022, the Philippine House of Representatives approved a final bill amending the Republic Act (RA) No. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, to reconcile inconsistencies in House Bill No. 10696 and Senate Bill No. 2425 introducing extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastic products. The Senate and House of Representatives approved House Bill 10696 and Senate Bill 2425 at their third and final reading sessions on January 31, 2022, respectively. Subsequently, these bills were unified in a bicameral assembly. The Senate approved the final bill on May 23, 2022. The President’s signature is awaited for the enactment of this law.

The Extended Producer Responsibility Act, recently approved by both Houses, amends RA No. 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, introducing EPR for waste management, particularly plastic waste management. The Act mandates producers to properly and effectively dispose of plastic products after use.

Specifically, it requires plastics producers to develop EPR programs. With regard to EPR programs, it is stipulated that a PRO can be formed or certified. Recovery targets are also set for each year based on the plastic waste generated in the previous year. The Act also includes an annual reporting requirement on compliance with the EPR program.

The plastic products in question are packaging materials and containers that are disposed of after use, such as:

• • Single-layer or multi-layer sachets, labels, and other soft plastic packaging products.
  • Hard plastic packaging products, such as containers for beverages, food, household goods, cosmetics, and their covers, caps, and lids.
  • Plastic bags.
  • Plastic products used for items sold under B to B.
  • Polystyrene
  • Multilayer plastic packaging composed of plastic and other materials.

The Senate bill also provides incentives for producers to practice EPR.

You can view House Bill 10696 and Senate Bill 2425 at the following URLs:

• House Bill No. 10696
  https://hrep-website.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/legisdocs/third_18/HBT10696.pdf
• Senate Bill No. 2425
  http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/3647133606!.pdf