The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has urged the public to be more responsible in managing garbage since waste, particularly plastic, can be devastating for marine biodiversity. Plastics are non-biodegradable materials, which do not decay. Once discarded, plastics are likely to end up in oceans after being washed down from rivers and toilets or blown by the wind from dumpsites. “Small litter like candy wrappers end up in our oceans. It is eaten by marine species, clogging their stomach and causing their death,” DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones said on the occasion of World Environment Day yesterday.

Villanueva, R., & Macairan, E. (2018, June 6). World Environment Day: Let’s stop plastic pollution. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 6.