Back with lessons from Japan: Archival eyes WTE solution

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is now positioning waste-to-energy technology as a long-term solution to the city’s worsening garbage problem.

His broadened appreciation for WTE comes from his official benchmarking mission in Japan, where he has been examining how cities like Yokohama and Tokyo convert trash into electricity, reduce landfill dependence, and integrate circular economy systems.

 “We are inspired by how cities like Yokohama and Tokyo turn waste into electricity, reduce landfill use, and protect the environment — while keeping communities clean and safe,” Archival said in a public update yesterday from Japan

emphasized that Cebu must learn to treat waste as a resource, combine technology with discipline to build a cleaner city, invest in clean and socially accepted technologies to save future costs, and strengthen community participation.

“Our goal is simple: cleaner barangays, less landfill cost, sustainable energy for Cebu. We will bring these lessons home and work with partners to build solutions that are practical, affordable, and good for our people,” he added.

Archival’s remarks in Japan build on his earlier caution. In January, he said that, as an environmentalist, he was inclined to say no to WTE, but as mayor facing Cebu’s mounting garbage problem, he was open to discussions.

He later clarified that he was not completely opposed, but stressed Cebu City could only pursue WTE once the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued proper guidelines.

Cebu’s garbage problem has been a recurring crisis for more than a decade. In 2011, the city closed the Inayawan landfill after years of complaints about foul odor, vermin, and health risks.

Some years later, the Supreme Court upheld a Writ of Kalikasan filed by Councilor Joel Garganera, permanently shutting down Inayawan and citing serious environmental and health hazards.

 That closure forced Cebu to rely on private facilities, most notably the Binaliw landfill operated by ARN Central Waste Management Inc.

The site was plagued with controversies long before its collapse, with the Commission on Audit noting inadequate drainage, infestations of flies and rats, foul odor, and potential leaks in its treatment plant.

By 2021, ARN’s operations were taken over by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, which promised modernized systems but continued to face complaints from residents about odor, pests, and environmental risks.

 The Binaliw site remained troubled until January 2026, when a massive trash slide killed dozens and displaced families, forcing its temporary closure following a DENR’s Cease-and-Desist order.

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In 2022, Cebu City approved a ?5-billion WTE project with New Sky Energy Philippines, intended to process 1,500 tons of waste daily and generate electricity.

But construction got stalled amid strong opposition from residents of Barangay Guba and neighboring areas, who raised health and environmental concerns during public hearings.

By late 2025, Garganera warned that a “public health crisis looms” after the collapse of the proposed WTE project in Guba, saying Cebu’s garbage problem was “nearing the point of no return.”

With Binaliw closed, Cebu was forced to haul garbage to Consolacion, but that option was short-lived as the town shut its doors to Cebu’s waste.

The city then resorted to hauling trash to Aloguinsan, a costly and logistically strained arrangement, while temporary transfer stations at South Road Properties were quickly overwhelmed.

Archival later admitted the city was in “crisis mode” and indefinitely suspended enforcement of fines under the “no segregation, no collection” ordinance, acknowledging that penalties were impractical without a stable disposal site.

 Acting Vice Mayor Winston Pepito warned that the crisis will remain unresolved if the communication gap between Archival and the City Council persists, stressing that legislative efforts risk stalling without clear direction from the mayor.

Archival’s broadened appreciation for WTE marks a turning point in city policy. He acknowledged that large-scale facilities could take years to build, but said Cebu must be willing to explore them alongside strengthening community discipline.

Archival also said that Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has expressed openness although in some sessions he expressed preferring incineration technologies without the costly energy component, arguing for solutions that are practical and can be implemented quickly.

Garganera, meanwhile, welcomed Archival’s update from Japan, saying, “I’ve been trumpeting this for quite some time, I hope and pray it will push through.”

Archival’s shift signals Cebu City’s renewed commitment to global sustainability standards. Whether the city can translate these lessons into practical solutions remains uncertain, but the urgency is undeniable.

With landfill options dwindling, daily trash volumes rising, and political divisions widening, Cebu City is expected to decide if waste-to-energy is the future of its garbage problem — or another stalled promise. (CEBU NEWS)