Bio-enzymes sprayed on Toledo landfill

To ease foul smell

CEBU, Philippines — Toledo City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) has sprayed enzymes on the landfill in Barangay Putingbato, an upland village, to mitigate the stench coming from the facility.

Five hundred millimeters of enzymes were initially sprayed on the garbage on January 9, a day after CENRO received complaints from residents.

The bio-enzymes come in powder form and have to be diluted with non-chlorinated water before it is sprayed on trash piles to speed up the decomposition process of garbage.

The enzymes are used to address the foul smell from landfills, waste water management systems, poultry farms and piggeries.

As for the long-term solution to the leak and foul smell, engineer Pilar Canga, CENRO officer-In-charge, said they are pushing for the construction of a P3-million leachate pond at the landfill.

Residual wastes will undergo water treatment in a leachate pond where harmful chemicals will be dissolved.

Canga said they will bid out the project at the soonest possible time.

Among the requirements of a sanitary landfill are lining cover, daily soil cover, and leachate pond to avoid leachate leakage.

The alleged poor maintenance of the landfill is causing leachate to seep into ground, contaminating the groundwater resources.

Moreover, Canga said the city needs five containers to treat the water from the landfill.

Canga said the city is exhausting all possible measure to address the stench and the deteriorating condition of the landfill.

“We are exerting all efforts to address the issue,” he said, adding that the city conducted a consultation with the affected residents.

Residents of Toledo in midwest Cebu have been complaining of the sanitary landfill in Barangay Putingbato, resulting in smell, water contamination and skin irritation.

They said landfill leachate is already contaminating the water sources not only in Barangay Putingbato but also in the neighboring barangay of Canlumampao.

Residents also complained that the contamination has caused skin diseases to some. (FREEMAN)