Incineration to be allowed? Gov’t revisits solid waste law 25 years after passage

MANILA, Philippines – Environment officials said Tuesday, January 27, that they are in talks with Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo about amending the solid waste management law, 25 years after the former president herself signed it.

Among possible amendments discussed is allowing new incineration technologies, according to Environment Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla.

“Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did emphasize in her speech that part of the amendment that she’s introducing would allow waste-to-energy or other technologies provided that they meet the emission standards of the country,” Lotilla told reporters on Tuesday.

Lotilla added that since the passage of the law, new incineration technologies have been developed that “can now meet the current environmental standards.”

Incineration burns solid waste and is currently prohibited under Republic Act No. 9003 as waste treatment and resource recovery. Environmental groups oppose waste incineration, citing its negative impacts to public health and environment.

In general, Lotilla said there is a need to review the implementation of the law and revisit the allocation of responsibility on solid waste management.

Under RA 9003, local governments have the primary responsibility for enforcing solid waste management, while the national government, concerned organizations, and the private sector provide supportive, “cooperative efforts.”

Each local governments is required to submit a 10-year solid waste management plan, but implementation is another matter. In 2016, the DENR lodged 50 complaints against local governments for non-compliance. Constraints in local governments’ resources and other priorities placed solid waste management in the backseat, environment officials admitted.

Meanwhile, DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the rights and welfare of informal waste management workers “can be possibly integrated in the amendment of the law.”

“We will definitely participate in the committee deliberations… so that we can provide input,” said Cuna.

Currently, the DENR has directed its regional offices to do a comprehensive inspection of landfills, following the tragic Binaliw landfill tragedy in Cebu that saw at least 36 people dead.

“That’s why we had this nationwide revisiting and inspection of all solid waste facilities to make sure that we do not have a repeat of the incident in Cebu,” said Lotilla.

The DENR has not yet released findings from the nationwide inspection. DENR Assistant Secretary Jacqueline Caancan said the department already has data on local governments’ compliance, but these still need to be validated on site. – Rappler.com