Council pushes pyrolysis, waste segregation hubs

CEBU, Philippines — Two resolutions promoting a combination of advanced waste-to-energy technology and barangay-level waste segregation have been approved by the Cebu City Council in a bid to address the city’s worsening garbage crisis.

One resolution, authored by Councilor Winston C. Pepito, recommends that the executive department consider and develop a garbage pyrolysis project.

Pyrolysis, a thermal process conducted with little or no oxygen, converts waste into usable byproducts such as synthesis gas or syngas, pyrolysis oil, and carbon char. The technology is seen as a potential solution to reduce landfill dependence while promoting energy recovery.

Pepito emphasized that any proposed project must strictly comply with Republic Act 9003, the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, and all safeguards imposed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Two corollary motions further reinforced Pepito’s proposal.

Councilor Jose Lorenzo tasked the City Legal Office to review national laws, local ordinances, and DENR regulations to ensure compliance and address potential hazards, while Councilor Harry Eran called for an executive session with stakeholders on June 9 to deliberate on the pyrolysis project, citing the urgency of the city’s garbage problem.

The second resolution, authored by Councilor Sisinio M. Andales, strongly urged barangay officials to replicate the waste sorting hub model currently operating at the South Road Properties.

Andales argued that barangay-level waste hubs would decentralize waste management, reduce hauling costs, empower communities to segregate waste at source, and generate economic opportunities through recycling and composting.

He added that localized waste hubs would also help protect sensitive ecosystems near the SRP while fostering civic responsibility among residents.Cebu City’s waste management system has been under severe strain in recent months.

The collapse of the Binaliw landfill in January 2026, which claimed the lives of 36 workers and one rescuer, forced the city government to rely on costly hauling contracts from Consolacion and later to Aloguinsan.

The city now spends nearly ?3,906 per ton to haul waste, significantly higher than the ?1,100 per ton previously spent at the Binaliw landfill, creating what councilors described as an unsustainable financial burden.

The SRP transfer station, which serves as a temporary solution, has also drawn criticism because of foul odors and threats to nearby mangrove ecosystems.

Illegal dumping, landfill congestion, and rising collection costs have further compounded the crisis, prompting residents and environmental groups to press the city government for urgent reforms.

Councilors have repeatedly warned that without decisive action, the city risks long-term ecological damage and spiraling waste management expenses. — (FREEMAN)