DTI backs city waste recycling scheme ordinance

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has expressed support for Cebu City’s proposed ordinance requiring recycling bins and deposit-return schemes for bottles and cans, but said enforcement should be gradual and transparent.

“We support the intent of this ordinance, but businesses and consumers must be given time to adjust. A transition period of 180 days is necessary to ensure proper compliance,” a portion of the comments submitted by DTI Region 7 Acting Director Esperanza Melgar to the City Council reads.

Melgar stressed that the refundable deposits—P2 for PET and glass bottles and P1 for aluminum cans—must be clearly itemized on receipts and price tags.

“Deposits should not be hidden within product prices. They must be transparent to avoid misuse or unauthorized price increases,” she explained.

DTI also urged the council to require establishments to post clear instructions on how consumers can return containers and claim refunds, whether in cash, electronic credit, or store vouchers.

The ordinance, earlier filed by Councilor Joel Garganera, is officially titled the Cebu City Plastic Waste Reduction and Producer Responsibility Ordinance of 2026.

It mandates supermarkets, restaurants, and other vendors to install color-coded bins for PET bottles, glass bottles, and aluminum cans within six months of the ordinance’s effectivity.

Establishments are also required to ensure the proper handling of recyclables, transport them to authorized facilities, and submit quarterly reports to the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

Noncompliance could result in fines ranging from P5,000 to P30,000, suspension of permits, or even revocation of permits for repeated violations.

This legislative push comes amid Cebu City’s worsening garbage crisis.

The city generates between 600 and 700 tons of waste daily, but its disposal facilities can handle only about 450 tons, leaving a surplus of up to 250 tons every day. This imbalance has led to unsafe dumping practices and overfilled landfills.

The collapse of the Binaliw landfill on January 8, 2026, which killed 36 people, exposed systemic failures in waste oversight and the enforcement of Republic Act No. 9003.

Mayor Nestor Archival has since admitted that hauling costs doubled to P4.2 million daily after the collapse forced Cebu City to transport garbage to Aloguinsan, translating to nearly P1 billion annually. — /IHM (FREEMAN)