Asean countries act to solve problem of municipal waste

On July 10, 2001, the Payatas dumpsite collapsed, resulting in the death of several poor people who made a living from the voluminous garbage in the area. People blamed the local government, particularly the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which is responsible for providing waste disposal and management services to cities and municipalities in Metro Manila by virtue of R.A. 7942. On the other hand, there are some people who are saying that the tragedy could have been avoided if the Payatas residents heeded the calls and warnings of the government for them to leave the place for health and safety reasons.

The Payatas tragedy has provided some valuable lessons in solid waste management. Generally, it highlighted the need for local government units to develop and operationalize an integrated solid waste management system that is environmentally sound and viable within their jurisdictions. Specifically, it reflected the need to shift from the method of open dumping of garbage to developing and maintaining a sanitary method of disposing them. It also pointed out the necessity of educating the local government on the appropriate way of closing dumpsites and revitalizing them afterwards.

A similar catastrophe is not farfetched. Many urban centers in other developing countries like us have no landfills and are still in need of attitudinal and technical inputs and support along proper solid waste management.

The United Nations Environment Program – Division of Technology, Industry and Economics – International Environmental Technology Center (UNEP-DTIE-IETC) and the DENR, in an effort to address this need, organized a regional workshop on municipal solid waste management for local governments in Southeast Asia on Sept. 24 to 27 at the Holiday Inn Resort in Clark Field, Angeles City.

The workshop convened the urban managers and decision makers in ASEAN for better understanding of the elements and concepts in municipal solid waste management and come up with viable and sustainable opinions to respond to the problem of solid waste management. Specifically, it equipped them with the following knowledge: a) How to shift from open dumping to controlled landfill and eventually to an engineered sanitary landfill; and b) How to decommission or close an open dumpsite in an environmentally sound manner, including rehabilitation and redevelopment".

To afford a multiplier effect of the learning obtained from the workshop, the participants were expected to conduct echo-training courses for technical staff in the national and local governments.

Delegates came from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. They worked hand-in-hand with local participants representing the Senate, Congress, DENR, LGUs, MMDA, USAEP, and non-government environmental organizations and environmentalists.

The problem on municipal solid waste in the country is formidable. At present, landfill is a problem and garbage is everywhere. The three R’s in solid waste management (re-use, reduce, and recycle), which has been promoted for years, could hardly take off. People have shown apathy while government efforts appear to be inadequate.

R.A. 9003, otherwise known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is considered a powerful jumpstart in making municipal solid waste program work. The necessary mechanisms can generally minimize if not totally solve this environmental concern. International support and cooperation programs can certainly complement. Of vital importance now is the participation and commitment of every citizen to solid waste management programs and initiatives.