Plastic bottles top 2026 coastal cleanup waste in Western Visayas

ILOILO CITY — Plastic beverage bottles emerged as the most collected waste item during the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup in Western Visayas, while discarded e-cigarettes also appeared as a growing environmental concern.

A total of 5,539 volunteers participated in cleanup activities across the region’s five provinces.

Volunteers collected 11,322.585 kilograms, or 1,401 sacks, of waste from coastal areas, with plastic materials accounting for much of the haul.

Plastic beverage bottles topped the list with 13,274 pieces collected across Western Visayas.

Oton, Iloilo, accounted for 3,024 bottles, including 1,734 pieces collected from Barangays Poblacion South and Trapiche and 1,290 from Barangays Poblacion East and Alegre.

In Guimaras, volunteers collected 2,867 plastic bottles from Piagau Island, Binabaywan Island and Alman Sur.

Another 2,850 bottles were recovered from Barangays Culasi, Baybay, Dumolog, Cogon and Punta Cogon in Roxas City and Barangay Binaobawan in Pilar, Capiz.

Plastic food wrappers, which topped last year’s list, fell to second place with 10,211 pieces collected.

Barangay Sua in San Dionisio, Iloilo, accounted for 3,300 food wrappers.

Another 2,150 wrappers were collected from Barangays Culasi, Baybay, Dumolog, Cogon and Punta Cogon in Roxas City and Barangay Binaobawan in Pilar, Capiz.

Volunteers also collected 1,166 wrappers from Barangays Poblacion South and Trapiche in Oton.

Cigarette butts ranked third among the most collected waste items, with 9,957 pieces recovered.

From 1986 to 2018, cigarette butts were the most commonly collected item worldwide in Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, and they remain a major component of regional coastal waste.

Lambingan Beach and Jetty Port in Pook, Kalibo, Aklan, recorded 3,583 cigarette butts.

Barangay Poblacion in Culasi, Antique, accounted for 3,038 pieces.

Another 2,350 cigarette butts were collected from Barangays Culasi, Baybay, Dumolog, Cogon and Punta Cogon in Roxas City and Barangay Binaobawan in Pilar, Capiz.

E-cigarette or vape waste also appeared prominently in this year’s cleanup, with 188 pieces collected across the region.

Capiz recorded the most vape waste with 110 pieces, followed by Iloilo with 30 and Guimaras with 26.

Environmental advocates said discarded e-cigarettes pose a complex threat to marine ecosystems because they contain single-use plastics, toxic heavy metals, lithium-ion batteries, nicotine salts and e-liquid residues.

These materials can pose risks to fish, sea turtles and other marine life when improperly discarded.

“We must be mindful of the waste we generate, as improper disposal can pose a serious risk to our oceans. The fight against marine pollution continues to evolve, and we need stronger local ordinances and dedicated systems for the proper disposal of electronic waste,” said Ramar Niel V. Pascua, OIC regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 6.

“Addressing this emerging toxic threat, however, also requires the active participation of e-waste users. We must all be responsible for the waste we generate and ensure that it is properly disposed of. By keeping our oceans healthy, we help ensure that they can continue to sustain and nourish our communities,” Pascua added.

The International Coastal Cleanup is an annual volunteer effort that mobilizes communities to remove and document waste from shorelines and waterways while building public awareness of marine pollution.