Cabrera to Rama: Implement Inayawan landfill closure plan

CEBU, Philippines - With the danger brought by the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill to public health and environment, Cebu City councilor Nida Cabrera is asking Mayor Michael Rama to fast-track the process of formulating the closure plan for the landfill.

The closure plan includes an assessment of the present condition of the landfill, recommendation of the proposed post-closure land use including the required physical infrastructure for the landfill’s post-closure management.

“Nanghangyo ko nga i-finalize ug i-fully implement na ang closure plan,” Cabrera plead.

An amount of P1,204,500 was appropriated for the closure plan last year but Cabrera said it has never been implemented.

Rama ordered on March 30, 2011 to close the landfill “to all forms of municipal solid waste, except segregated and residual waste”.

There was also a subsequent Cessation Order on all solid waste from being dumped at the landfill effective December 10, 2011 issued together with a directive that all solid waste in the city be transported to a duly licensed facility authorized such as the private one in Consolacion.

Cabrera said that both orders enjoined the Department of Public Services (DPS) and all concerned city government offices to conduct remediation and perform as well corrective measures on the sanitary landfill.

The 15-hectare facility has been in operation for 15 years already that was started September 11, 1998.

Cabrera said the landfill has reached the maximum capacity and already posing hazards to public health and the environment.

This made it evidently true after the recent study conducted by the University of San Carlos entitled “Fate and transport of chromium, lead and mercury in the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill”.

The study revealed the alarming presence of toxic substances at the landfill above average levels and likely generated from mercury-contained household solid waste products.

“If a significant volume of mixed solid waste generated daily will remain in the landfill, this landfill may be on different from dumpsites that have been banned seven years after effectivity of RA 9003 in year 2000,” Cabrera stressed.

In a privilege speech yesterday, Cabrera appealed for a strict enforcement of waste segregation at source and volume reduction schemes such as the establishment of composting and recycling facilities.

She also requested the A2D Project and the Chemistry Department of USC for a presentation of their mercury survey in Inayawan Landfill in a public hearing on October 9 to guide the City Council on the appropriate measures relative to the Inayawan landfill.— (FREEMAN)