QC segregation reduces garbage hauls

The Quezon City government’s implementation of the "no segregation, no collection of garbage" policy under Republic Act 9003, or the Solid Waste Management Law, in nine pilot areas has resulted in a 70 percent reduction of the number of collection trips.

Aida Aquino, assistant chief of the city’s Environment Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), reported to Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. that the collection policy was imposed in Barangays Masagana, Villa Maria Clara, Milagrosa, Tagumpay, Marilag, Dioquino Zobel, Bayanihan, La Vista and White Plains.

She said garbage collection and disposal in the city in the past two weeks has been stable and that other barangays have begun setting up their own material recovery facility (MRF) where garbage can be segregated, recycled or transformed into fertilizer.

Among these is Barangay Milagrosa, which acquired a 5,000-square meter lot for the MRF and an urban garden facility.

The EPWMD will also be setting up an MRF within the city hall complex, with security guards to be deputized as environmental police to arrest litterbugs.

Belmonte earlier directed the EPWMD to intensify its information campaign on proper disposal of garbage at the barangay level to reduce garbage collection costs. The city government is also cracking down on illegal disposal of garbage. – Perseus Echeminada