Manila, Sept. 23 -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Western Visayas is calling for stronger local ordinances and dedicated disposal systems for electronic waste after volunteers collected 188 discarded e-cigarettes during this year's International Coastal Cleanup.

The cleanup on Sept. 19 yielded 110 e-cigarettes in coastal barangays in Capiz, 30 in Iloilo, and 26 in Guimaras, the DENR-Western Visayas said Wednesday.

The agency said the find highlights the need for proper disposal of e-cigarettes and other electronic waste.

"We must be mindful of the waste we generate, as improper disposal can pose a serious risk to our oceans," DENR-Western Visayas officer-in-charge Regional Executive Director Ramar Niel Pa...