USE AND SELLING OF PLASTIC BAGS AND STYROFOAMS IS PROHIBITED IN SAN NICOLAS

Section 3 of the Municipal Ordinance No. 2018-03 provides that no business establishments including school canteens, cooperatives, ambulant vendors, peddlers and rolling stores shall be allowed to use plastic bags for primary and secondary packaging with dry goods except for special cases where stronger support is needed as determined appropriate by the Municipal Solid Waste Management Board (MSWMB):

1. Use of plastic bags on wet goods shall be allowed;

2. The kind of plastic bags allowed to be used and sold shall be biodegradable and oxo-biodegradable.

Section 4 likewise states that all food chains, restaurants, supermarkets, eateries and other similar establishments including households within the municipality are prohibited from using and selling styrofoams:

1. Use of styrofoams as FOOD PACKAGES is prohibited;

2. Use of Styrofoam plates, cups, bowls and other packaging materials DURING EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS i.e. padaya, paala, pamerienda and the like is prohibited.

Section 9 of this Ordinance further provides that all persons and business establishments who violate any of the prohibited acts stated above shall be punished through the imposition of the following penalties:

1st OFFENSE – Fine of P500.00

2nd OFFENSE – Fine of P1,000.00

3rd OFFENSE – Fine of P2,500.00 and/or imprisonment of not more than six (6) months upon the discretion of the court and in the case of business establishments, cancellation of their license to operate for a period of one (1) year.
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Report any violators to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) or the Municipal Solid Waste Management Board (MSWMB) of the municipality.