A series of nationwide protest actions were held on Wednesday urging the government to scrap proposals on waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration and show its sincerity in declaring a climate emergency in the country.
In observance of the National Day of Action on Climate Emergency, protest actions led by No Burn Pilipinas and Break Free From Plastic PH Project (BFFP) called on the government to drop the legalization of garbage incineration in the guise of waste-to-energy plants and instead pass sustainable and comprehensive waste management policies and safer practices that would reduce waste.
The groups stressed that allowing waste-to-energy incineration amid the declaration of climate emergency in the country will continue to pose threats to public health and violate environmental laws, such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Air Act.
"We need the government's sincerity in addressing the climate emergency. There must be a comprehensive plan including policies in mitigating the climate crisis and to disallow the funding of dirty energy projects by corporations that greatly contribute to climate change which endanger the health of citizens due to the release of poisonous chemicals such as dioxins and furans. Among these projects are waste-to-energy incineration facilities that proponents argue will solve the garbage crisis," Glenn Ymata of No Burn Pilipinas said.
Aileen Lucero of EcoWaste Coalition said a climate emergency declaration must consider the environment and communities in all policies, decision making and implementation processes.
"Senator Win Gatchalian's Waste-to-Energy Bill must be scrapped immediately and lawmakers should approve the green laws pending in the 18th Congress, such as the National Single-Use Plastics Ban and National Land Use Act as well as ordinances that would hold culprits accountable of climate disaster and crisis," Lucero added.
Derek Cabe of Nuclear Free Bataan Movement, meanwhile, reiterated the need to have immediate and long-term sustainable plans and decisive actions that are comprehensive in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change and disasters.
"We need urgent steps to safeguard our country’s lands from further misuse and degradation. There are existing and proven solutions in dealing with waste at the local level that do not require burning or incineration such as the zero waste approach," Cabe said.
The groups also demanded an executive order to be issued immediately to ensure that national agencies and local government units will take immediate actions to stop waste-to-energy projects.
Grecian Asoy of Panalipdan Youth Mindanao also pointed out that WTE facilities tend to lack transparency when it comes to the long-term effects of such projects to the communities and the people in the area.
"Take the WTE facility to be erected in Biao, Davao City. They promised the residents that they will be given priority when it comes to job hiring, and that their community will benefit from the electricity it will generate. However, in reality, the electricity that will be generated is only very minimal and technically, the plastics will still be incinerated, harming the community and the environment in the process," Asoy said.
The groups said petitions will be submitted to the Senate to counter the issuance of any laws, permits and certificates for the operation of WTE facilities "so that lawmakers will be obliged to allocate resources in building safer waste management facilities and sustainable practices."