Going Around the Clean Air Act

I read an article in Philstar.com regarding rather ingenious ways that scrupulous persons and firms are trying in order to go around the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Indeed it has been ten years since the law was passed. I think it is high time that we look back, pause and try to take stock of what the law has achieved.

Here is the article:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=479724&publicationSubCategoryId=200

Activists slam 'greenwashing' of companies
By Katherine Adraneda Updated June 21, 2009 04:45 PM

MANILA, Philippines - A local waste and pollution watchdog today criticized some waste management companies for undermining the true intent of the Clean Air Act (Republic Act 8749) through what it called “greenwashing.”

This as the EcoWaste Coalition urged for the strict enforcement of the incineration ban, as provided under the Clean Air Act, which is set to mark its 10th year on June 23.

According to EcoWaste, the Philippines set “a positive and leading example for the world” when it banned waste incinerators as part of the Clean Air Act. The group said the law’s enactment rightly envisioned the need to veer away from wasteful, destructive and polluting practices that contribute to climate change.

However, EcoWaste also said, while the intent of the Clean Air Act was clear in terms of outlawing waste incinerators due to the toxic and poisonous fumes associated with the process, some waste management companies sanctioned by government authorities have also been busy in their efforts to undermine the law.

“Despite the ban, vendors would not stop peddling costly incinerators, camouflaging their waste burning processes as ‘green’ solutions and giving them modern-sounding labels such as pyrolysis, gasification, plasma, cement kiln co-processing, etc.,” said Manny Calonzo, president of EcoWaste.

“The national and local authorities and the citizens need to stay informed and alert against attempts to ‘greenwash’ modern incinerators,” he added.

EcoWaste explained that “greenwashing” refers to the practice of some companies “to dishonestly spin their policies and goods as ecologically-sound and beneficial to the people and the environment.”