Advocacy: Let’s Talk About Garbage and Those Little Packets

Almost a month ago after the flooding from the monsoon rain and I still often find me in deep contemplation about the things I can do as an individual to somehow help create change in my own little ways.

I’m NOT your most makabayan at makakalikasan kind of girl, I don’t try to project myself that way. Besides, I’m quite certain somehow in my own mindless ways I have sure contributed in pushing Mother Earth to destruction ― I’m trying to internalize the intensity of the emotion of what I just said and I can feel it’s a sad thought; it’s mind-boggling. Can you feel or somehow imagine what I feel? I can taste the bitter truth, I hope you can too.

Ohh! Hold on, don’t be scared I’m not going to teach and preach or jump on the blame wagon here. I don’t need to do so as I assume all of you who accidentally tripped or was-forced to be here in my blog site are all intelligent and responsible individuals. That being said only means we need not be told as we carry in our heads a very good sense of judgment, don’t we? So, don’t worry I’ll try not to bore you, so just stick with me, will you?=)

I just want to share a few realizations I had as I was about to refill a packet of dishwashing liquid to my used dishwashing liquid bottle. Ok, after complementing your intelligence and good judgement you’re free to laugh at me for having called out profound thoughts while doing such a menial thing. But another option is to hold-up laugher for later until I’m done with my explication. Whatever the decision I’d appreciate if you’d stay with me, I promise not to waste your time.

So, the meritorious thought occurred to me through an innocent dishwashing liquid bottle looking idly at me. Right, the situation is really silly but here goes.

Call me obsessive compulsive but there are things that I do which I want done a certain way. My illogical self prefers sachets and small packets of anything for use for cooking, for bathing, for housekeeping; basically for everything. It gives me a feeling that what I’m using is fresh, new and more effective. I can’t even remember the last time I bought a bottled shampoo and conditioner; I always buy those in sachets as I feel their scent is more lasting when they’re used fresh from a packet as compared to the bottled shampoo or conditioner that’s sitting exposed in the bathroom for a few weeks or months. Even my cleaning essentials; detergent, fabric conditioner, beaching agent, dishwashing liquid, glass and furniture cleaner I buy in small sachets. I want my condiments for cooking and food products in packets too, though this one is more reasonable. I live on my own so naturally I won’t be able to consume milk, sugar, seasonings, etcetera, etcetera in just a few days. And if it’s food, it’s really advisable that they’re served and prepared fresh; even my pepper corn I want freshly cracked, so...

Can you now see where I’m going with this? Well, let me take you where my point is. The obvious is clearer now. Garbage. A single worded cause of disaster.

^[1] “From flooding to dengue, from polluted rivers and creeks to mountains of trash, from the unnecessary death of fishes that accidentally swallowed plastic bags in the seas to global warming, garbage is the common denominator,”- Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje (On his interview with The Philippine Daily Inquirer on August 16, 2011)

(This photo is from the Philippine Daily Inquirer from the same article cited below )

With my preamble-ing, I think it’s obvious to you how garbage becomes the subject of this topic. So, it occurred to me. Since when did I get to the habit of buying all these sachets? And, how come I choose not to realize that every emptied packet is an addition to the garbage I throw away?

Then another thought. The trouble is, sometimes tragedy is relative to some people. That means if bad things happen to others, it’s alright so long as it doesn’t happen to them. And most times this cause us not to feel responsible for the tragedies of the world ― or of the flooding during typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, Sendong, the monsoon rain and all the other floodings that happened in the past. It’s easy to wash-off guilt and even social and environmental responsibilities by simply saying “I throw my garbage at the right place all the time”. But is it enough that we segregate, that we throw our garbage at the right place? Yes, we send out our help, donating used clothes, food, voluntary works; we do all the necessary efforts to send and get help, but are these enough?

According to Ms. Emy Aguinaldo, executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Commission to the same interview at the Philippine Daily’s, “a single resident produces an average of 0.7 kilogram of waste a day, about “130 percent higher” than the global average of 0.3 kg per person per day”. That sounds a lot to me, does it to you? According to the same interview 16 percent of the total garbage from Metro Manila is plastic; plastic which we excessively produce, mindlessly use and carelessly throw away, plastic which would take a lifetime to decompose and would require millions of money should it go through decomposing procedures ― money which we could use for more important aspects in nation building. This could lead us to the never ending blaming game where the only perpetrator we see is the government, enough blaming the government! Everyone is at fault. And it’s about time we make a stand for humanity, for Mother Earth, for ourselves, for everybody else.

I hope this is not too late a realization I have stumbled upon. I’m sure I’m not alone with the kind of disorder I’m breeding, having said that means there are several of us who’re contributing to the 16 percent of plastic garbage collected every day. We have to stop. Let’s try to re-think our options before grabbing those little packets from the grocery stand. Before we take them to our shopping carts, let’s think first; is it more nature friendly if we get the bottled shampoo and conditioner? Is it more nature friendly if we get the one in the glass container for the soy sauce and vinegar instead of getting the plastic bottle or the one’s in the packets; is it more nature friendly if we get the bigger bags of detergent powder instead of throwing away several smaller sachets of the same product?

I know we are conditioned to consume and buy different things, sometimes even to buy things for our “perceived” but more likely illogical needs. We have become such irrational consumers who entrusted so much of everything that we need to whatever is available in the market which our money can afford for us to have and buy. But I believe beneath our hard-skulls and clouded logic is a real human being who truly cares for Mother Earth. Every one of us aspires to be able to do meaningful acts in his lifetime ― this is not a-hope, this is a statement of genuine trusts to the goodness and the intelligent judgement of people. So much had already happened to the world, to our country. It’s about time that we become involved in making a change. Let’s make it our personal mission, our purpose in making life better and safer not for a few but for every Filipino.

With this realization I’d like us to make a pact. Let’s try to make intelligent decisions. Little as it may seem, I’m sure will make a big difference. Let’s try the more logical view of things. A lot of us will surely benefit. On my next visit to the grocery I’ll get the bottled shampoo and conditioner to replace my beloved freshly opened shampoo and conditioner from the sachet, I’ll take the larger bags of my other purchases too so I don’t have to throw away plastics very often. I hope you’d do the same logical assessment when you’re shopping for your household needs. I would appreciate if you’d honour our pact even when I’m not looking, even when no one is looking. I need you to agree with me on this.

Again I’m not your makakalikasan and makabayan kind of girl nor am I playing a hero. But I’m a girl hoping to help save the world one sound thought at a time. I need you with me in this cause. One-arm-reach-one. Give me your hand and let’s work as one.

We only have one shot to life and this is a rare opportunity for another chance to make a difference. Let’s take this shot and make this count.

Life is a challenge but we’ll survive it. We always do. Let’s savour life’s bitter sweet taste it will make us appreciate whatever the future brings.=)

Live Life!

Mai 

P.S.: This is not a sponsored blog entry

P.P.S.: I did not do research as to whether plastic bottles thrown away in less frequency as compared to sachets are cheaper in production and if it would contribute to lessen the load of garbage in a per day basis. I’m just using plain logic in writing this entry. If I turn out to be mistaken, I would appreciate if you let me know.

You might also be interested to read on a related topic from another blogger on his entry: Does “tingi” or plastic sachet packaging really benefit the Filipino masses?  

Citation:  ^[1] The Philippine Daily Inquirer: Metro Manila produces a fourth of Philippine garbage