P3.2M monthly bill for trash disposal

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City will have to spend an estimated P3.6 million monthly starting October when it starts the preparatory activities for the final closure of the landfill in barangay Inayawan.

The amount represents the tipping fee of P120,000 per day, which is the estimated cost based on the amount of garbage that the city will have to divert to the landfills of other Local Government Units.

The Solid Waste Management Board, after series of workshops, came up with initial recommendations to be implemented on October 1, which was supposedly the target date of Mayor Michael Rama for the total closure of the landfill.

But Engr. Amancio Dongcoy, Regional Solid Waste Management Coordinator and member of the Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board, said that the final closure by October 1 is not possible because there are things that must be done gradually.

Rama, during yesterday’s news conference, said he has given the board one week to brainstorm and come up with concrete recommendations come October 1.

Dongcoy, representing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said that he recommended the total ban of wastes to the landfill cells starting October. 

Cells are the different dumping areas inside the landfill.

“We suggested that they should no longer input pollutants in the landfill. Biodegradable wastes can be dumped at the composting sites of each barangay while the non-biodegradable and residual wastes may be diverted to the landfill in Consolacion or Naga,” Dongcoy said.

Since there is no other landfill within the city, the city government might be forced to divert their garbage to the landfill in Consolacion, which offers to accommodate the city’s garbage at P700 per ton.

The city estimates that about 100 to 200 tons of garbage daily will have to be diverted to the authorized disposal sites.

The privately-owned landfill in Consolacion and the Material Recovery Facility in Naga City are among the authorized disposal sites within Cebu.

There is another in Compostela, but Department of Public Services Head Dionisio Gualiza said that the city government would prefer those that are closer.

Gualiza said dumping in Consolacion is or Naga will have to be finalized yet this week during the one-week ‘brainstorming’ period.

Gualiza said that they are urging all barangays to establish their own MRFs so the city can save about 50 percent of garbage that will have to be diverted to the private landfill.

“Mas maayo gyud nga naa sila’y MRF tanan aron 100 tons na lang atong magastuhan og tipping fee,” Gualiza said.

The city has identified barangays Ermita, Talamban, Luz, Mabolo, Apas, Kalunasan, Quiot and Mambaling as crucial sites that must have MRFs.

The city is willing to rent equipment such as 10-ton trucks, skid steer loader, 20-horsepower shredders and bioreactors for the operation of the eight MRFs.

About 58 tons per day is also targeted for recycling through the help of waste pickers.

For a long-term plan, the city is considering managing the plastic wastes through private partnership since plastic comprise most of the volume of waste generated by the city.

By December 31, the solid waste management board expects to complete and submit the closure plan.

Dongcoy said that a study must be conducted first to come up with a sustainable, measurable, attainable and time-bound plan for the total closure of the landfill.

He said that the closure of the landfill doesn’t mean total abandonment of the facility.

“Dili nato biyaan lang diha ang basura. The area must be rehabilitated. Tabunan na siya og soil aron matamnan. The city must treat the leachate,” Dongcoy said.

Dongcoy said that where to dump the septage remains the problem of the city government. — /NLQ - (THE FREEMAN)