(Taguig City).  The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a Joint Administrative Order JAO No. 2013-09-2001 to address the end-of-life disposal of lighting products and control the dispersion of toxic substances into the environment.

Based on several studies, there are approximately 50 million mercury-containing lamp wastes generated in the country per year. Only 1% is sent to treatment facilities, 8% are being stored, about 7% are sold to junk shops and 84% are disposed to garbage.

Hence, the Philippines is taking a pro-active measure in addressing this concern through the institutionalization of an Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR), a lamp waste management policy embodied in the recently signed JAO. The EPR is necessary as an enabling tool to address and manage the proper disposal of mercury-containing lamp wastes.

Likewise, the JAO tasks the lighting industry to set up a systematic collection, transportation and disposal of all lamp wastes in the country. To attain this, a non-stock, non-profit organization shall be established for the implementation of the Lamp Waste Management Plan, which shall be called the Lamp Waste Management Operator.

In support of this venture, the DOE and DENR also enjoin the people to take necessary steps of segregating their used lamps from their usual household garbage items, and encouraging them to dispose their lamp wastes appropriately.

As the danger of mercury seeping into the country’s groundwater is every one's concern, the DOE and DENR remain aggressive in pursuing all the pertinent measures to mitigate the negative health and the environment impact of toxic materials from lamp wastes.

The JAO will take effect on 13 October 2013, 15 days from its publication on 27 September 2013.