Makati eyes city-wide waste segregation

Makati is on its way to becoming one of the first local government units in Metro Manila where all government offices, barangays, schools and private offices segregate their garbage.

No less than the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) now consider Makati as among the few localities complying with Republic Act 9003, or the Solid Waste Management Act.

Records showed that the city had a 70.4 percent compliance rate in 2004. City officials are confident they can increase the figure this year.

The city’s best practices in waste management and protecting the environment will be featured in an exhibit at the Glorietta 3 mall next week.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said through the exhibit and the other activities lined up for the entire week, the city intends to share with other communities the innovations in waste management and environmental protection being implemented by the city government, barangays, schools and the private sector.

"The Makati experience shows that local communities can lead the national campaign to protect the environment and to promote waste segregation," Binay said.

The exhibit will run from April 18 to 21 and will kick-off a five-day celebration of Earth Day on April 22 which Makati City will host.

Binay said the city government is working with the Liga ng mga Barangay, Department of Education-Makati, Makati Environmental Foundation Inc., Ayala Foundation Inc., Ayala Center Association, Ayala Land Inc., Makati Commercial Estate Association Inc., Makati Environmental Youth Advocacy, the environment committee of the Makati Business Development Council and Rotary International in further improving its waste segregation efforts.

According to the mayor, Makati noted a significant decrease in the volume of garbage collected in the city for 2004 because of effective solid waste management.

Reports from the city’s Solid Waste Management Division (SWD) said garbage contractors collected 1.005 million cubic meters of waste in 2004, as compared to 1.094 million cubic meters in 2003. — Michael Punongbayan