16 Nov 2022 --- The Philippines’ lower house of Congress has approved taxing single-use plastics, following president Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s commitment to tackle ocean pollution. The Senate must approve the tax measure before a reconciled bill is sent to Marcos for signature. The tax is expected to raise 9.3 billion pesos (US$481 million) in revenues annually, which will be used to fund solid waste management projects. The bill says a tax of 100 pesos (US$1.75) would be levied on firms for every kilogram of single-use plastics that they produce or import, and it would rise by 4% annually starting in 2026 to discourage usage and protect the environment. “This tax can impact producers and importers, but they may not necessarily reduce production or importation. Greenpeace is concerned about the possible burden on people, as companies may pass on these costs to the consumers,” Marian Ledesma, zero waste campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia, tells PackagingInsights.
