Polluters must pay cost of waste disposal – MLC

CEBU, Philippines — The Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC) has demanded accountability in the city’s worsening garbage emergency, declaring that polluters—not taxpayers—must shoulder the cost of disposal.

In a statement released the other day, the group led by former City Environment chief Reymarr Hijara along with Architect Joseph Michael Espina, Joel Lee and Jesselito Baring invoked the “Polluter-Pays Principle” under

Republic Act 9003, stressing, “It is not a citizen’s right to dump garbage. Whoever dumps garbage outside his home or premises is responsible for the cost and total impact of that waste.”

Cebu City’s Department of Public Services reports that hauling and tipping fees now reach ?3,904 per ton—about ?3.90 per kilo—just to move mixed garbage to the Aloguinsan landfill.

MLC warned that this figure excludes the hidden costs already borne by residents: polluted groundwater, foul odors, infestations, and even the tragic deaths of landfill workers.

“The massive cost of garbage cannot be met without sacrificing critical public projects and services, such as health care, maintenance, education, and childcare,” the group emphasized.

To address the crisis, MLC is proposing a per-kilo disposal fee to encourage households and businesses to reduce waste.

“This will motivate people to reduce the volume of garbage they generate,” the statement explained, adding that such a measure would also improve livelihood options for those in the informal sector who sort, pick, and recycle waste.

They also urged the implementation of a redeemable deposit system for packaging materials, in collaboration with manufacturers under the Extended Producers’ Responsibility Act.

On the prospect of Waste-to-Energy facilities, MLC urged caution. “Any decision to invest in this multi-million-peso technology must be approached with care,” they said, citing concerns over toxic emissions, the need for constant fuel, and the irony of reduced trash volumes undermining the viability of such plants.

With nearly half of Metro Cebu’s waste being biodegradable, the group insists that source segregation is the most urgent and practical step.

“Segregating garbage is a responsibility for every household and enterprise. This basic discipline must become a habit for all citizens,” MLC stressed.

The group’s message is clear: polluters must pay, and citizens must take responsibility for the waste they generate.

“All of us produce garbage and contribute to the waste crisis. As citizens, we are suffering the consequences of our actions. As citizens, we also have the solutions in our hands,” MLC concluded, urging government leaders to act boldly, consult the public, and use funds transparently to secure Cebu’s future livability. (CEBU NEWS)