The Philippines has exceeded its mandated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets, signaling growing momentum in plastic waste recovery as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) convened the 2026 EPR Recognition Program to assess the law’s progress and recognize compliant producers.
Held in conjunction with National Zero Waste Month and the 25th anniversary of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the gathering brought together government, industry leaders, recyclers, and civil society to review the implementation of the EPR Law, formally known as Republic Act No. 11898.
Discussions centered on how producer accountability is now being operationalized alongside long-standing local government responsibilities under Republic Act No. 9003.
DENR Secretary Raphael P. M. Lotilla said the program underscored how EPR has moved from policy to practice. He noted that the milestones being recognized are evidence that collaboration across sectors can translate regulation into measurable environmental impact, adding that the EPR Law is now fully alive within the country’s waste management system.
Data presented during the event showed that in calendar year 2025, the national plastic diversion rate reached 55.98 percent, well above the mandated recovery target of 40 percent. Recovery rates for flexible plastics reached 56.33 percent, while rigid plastics posted a 55.60 percent diversion rate through recycling, upcycling, and co-processing.
By late 2025, the National Ecology Center had registered 1,017 entities, including obliged enterprises, collectives, and producer responsibility organizations, spanning 201 approved EPR programs nationwide.
According to Lotilla, the expanding participation of the private sector reflects not just regulatory compliance but a deeper sense of ownership over post-consumer waste. He said the Philippines is not merely aligning with global sustainability standards but is actively helping shape the transition toward a circular economy.
Looking ahead, the DENR outlined priority measures for 2026, including the enhancement of digital monitoring platforms, stronger institutional capacity-building, and expanded public information campaigns. The agency also plans to standardize audit frameworks to improve transparency and develop mechanisms that encourage more sustainable and recyclable packaging designs.
The 2026 EPR Recognition Program was co-organized by the DENR, through its Environmental Management Bureau, and the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Material Sustainability.
The event drew participants from the diplomatic corps, business community, academe, recycling sector, and civil society, reflecting the broad coalition now driving the country’s waste management reforms.