MMDA: Rizal dump opens next week

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said yesterday the Rodriguez, Rizal dumpsite would definitely be open by the first week of December.

Abalos said a contract has been signed between the MMDA and the Rodriguez municipal government last week for the use of the disposal site next month.

Under the contract, the MMDA would pay the Rodriguez municipality P450 per ton of garbage as the tipping fee.

The tipping fee charged by Rodriguez is more than 50 percent over than the benchmark of $18.89 (P982.28) per ton being used by the MMDA for a sanitary landfill.

Abalos said the new access road leading to the site is almost complete along with the protective lining on the site.

As part of the agreement for the development of the landfill, Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo has required the construction of an alternative route for the garbage trucks in order to prevent the use of the municipality’s main roads.

Cuerpo also demanded for the permanent closure of the Payatas dumpsite being used by Quezon City.

Abalos said that the closure of Payatas dumpsite is now in the works as Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte has been assured of the use of the Rodriguez landfill.

According to Abalos, only the residual waste would be accommodated by the site which is equivalent to around 50 percent of the total garbage generated.

Metro Manila produces over 6,000 tons of garbage per day, majority of which are biodegradable.

Abalos stressed that not all of the garbage of Metro Manila would go to the Rodriguez landfill as there are sites available for the MMDA.

He said a controlled dumpsite in Navotas will soon be ready and Mayor Tobias Tiangco has indicated that it would accommodate garbage from the city of Manila. – Marvin Sy