QC urges DENR: Extend Payatas dump closure

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City government has asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to give them until the end of the year to close down the Payatas landfill, citing needed preparations for the city’s solid waste management system.

Frederika Rentoy, head of the city Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department, said although they have been preparing for the closure of the waste facility since 2014, it would be best to defer the landfill’s closure to the end of the year.

“The city government supports the DENR decision but we are appealing for more time to prepare for the Payatas dump’s closure,” Rentoy said.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez earlier banned the dumping of garbage and toxic waste near bodies of water.

The Payatas landfill facility is near the La Mesa Watershed, which supplies water to Metro Manila.

Rentoy said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority should also be advised on the closure since it is the agency that pays the tipping fee of the landfill facility.

She said the local government would terminate waste hauling contracts in September to ensure the smooth transition from the current disposal area in Payatas to an alternative landfill site.

The city government has identified the landfills in Rodriguez in Rizal, Navotas and Vitas Marine loading station as possible facilities that could be utilized if the Payatas dump is closed down.

Rentoy cited the adjustments on the waste collection schedule, which could inconvenience the residents.

The livelihood of scavengers who will be affected by the closure should also be considered, Rentoy said.

The privately-owned Payatas dump receives an estimated 1,800 tons of trash per day generated by the residents and establishments in the city.

Spanning around four to six hectares, the landfill receives an estimated 500 garbage trucks daily with a fee of around P600 per ton.