Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu has warned local government units (LGUs) not to neglect proper waste disposal in the absence of open dumpsites.
Cimatu made the call after DENR received reports that some LGUs haven't been following the law when it comes to disposing of their garbage.
“It has come to our attention that after closing the illegally operating dumpsites, there are LGUs that are not properly disposing of their solid waste,” he said, noting reports that some garbage has been left uncollected.
“We are warning these LGUs to seriously manage their wastes. Or else face consequences violating Republic Act (RA) 9003,” added Cimatu, referring to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Section 10 of the two-decade-old law states that the collection of non-recyclable materials and special waste is the responsibility of the municipality or city.
Segregation and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level. Waste shall be sorted according to type--biodegradable, compostable, and recyclables.
One of the DENR's major accomplishments this year was the shutdown of all 335 illegally-operating open dumpsites in the country. The dumpsite closures were led by Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGU Concerns Benny Antiporda.
Antiporda echoed Cimatu’s warning, saying the DENR will not tolerate negligence of solid waste management and will not hesitate to call out erring LGUs.
If anything, the dumpsite closures provided a big challenge to the LGUs as to how they should take out the trash, so to speak.
As required in the 10-year solid waste management plan of LGUs, in instances that an LGU does not have a facility for final disposal of its residual wastes, it is required to put up a residual waste disposal system while planning for the establishment of its sanitary landfill (SLF).
If the LGU is not capable of putting up its own SLF, it is encouraged to cluster up with neighboring LGUs for the establishment of a clustered SLF.