Atienza wants world-class waste disposal facility in RP

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza pushed yesterday for the establishment of a “world standard” waste disposal facility in the country to avert garbage crisis in Metro Manila in the future.

Speaking to reporters at the Manila Hotel, Atienza said there is a need to put up a “huge” and “permanent” waste disposal facility that strictly complies with Republic Act 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Atienza made the statement after the provincial government of Rizal recently stopped the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from dumping garbage in its 14-hectare sanitary landfill in Rodriguez.

Atienza said he has already issued environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) to several places that can be used as dumpsites of Metro Manila’s waste.

Reports said garbage trucks from Metro Manila were turned away from the Rodriguez sanitary landfill because Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo has started implementing last Feb. 11 the “pay as you discharge” scheme, which imposes a fee of P1,000 for each time a truck dumps its garbage.

According to reports the new payment scheme is expected to affect the cities of Makati, Pasay, Pasig and the town of Pateros, which rely on the MMDA to dispose of their garbage.

The MMDA has alternative dumping grounds in San Pedro, Laguna and Clark, Pampanga.

Reports said at least 40 percent of Metro Manila’s daily garbage collections are dumped at the Rodriguez landfill.   – Helen Flores