Zero-waste group EcoWaste Coalition on Wednesday reported that polling precincts during Eleksyon 2025 were “generally litter-free.”
The organization credited this to the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) campaign for eco-friendly elections, the availability of trash bags or bins in busy areas, and regular cleaning and sweeping in voting locations.
The poll body launched the campaign to ensure a clean and litter-free election day.
“For sure, there were bits and pieces of trash in the school premises. But it was unlike past elections when littering was more evident, as if litterbugs were having a party,” said Zero-Waste Campaigner Cris Lague.
However, the group expressed concern over the littering of campaign materials and single-use food packaging found on sidewalks and street corners near voting centers.
EcoWaste Coalition shared that it monitored more than 40 schools across various locations, including Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Quezon City, Orani in Bataan, Batangas City, Marilao in Bulacan, Calamba City in Laguna, San Antonio in Nueva Ecija, San Mateo in Rizal, and Koronadal City in South Cotabato.
The group urged the candidates to participate in the post-election clean-up operations to ensure a “basura-free” election.
“We call on all political parties, party-list groups and candidates to take full responsibility for the environmental impact of their campaigns by ensuring the proper retrieval, clean-up and management of their campaign materials,” Lague said.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) previously reported that 6.1 tons, or 6,100 kilograms, of garbage were collected across the National Capital Region on Monday, Election Day.
