Rizal LGUs get COVID-19 waste bins from DENR

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has turned over 100 yellow trash bins to the municipal governments of Binangonan and Angono in Rizal to help the local government units (LGUs) in the proper segregation and disposal of household health care wastes, such as used face masks.

DENR Undersecretary for solid waste management and LGU concerns Benito Antonio de Leon handed over 50 trash bins each to Binangonan Mayor Cesar Martin Ynares and Angono Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon on March 7.

“As former secretary Roy Cimatu manifested and as pursued by our new secretary Jim Sampulna, we need to proceed in the direction of behavioral change,” De Leon said.

He commended the  two local chief executives for implementing National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) Resolution adopting the interim guidelines on the management of COVID-related healthcare waste issued in April 2020.

De Leon, who is also the alternate chairman of the NSWMC, said the donation would go a long way in equipping LGUs to mainstream sound solid waste management practices.

Ynares said the donation would help sustain the drop in COVID cases in his town.

Calderon welcomed the support of the DENR support in the implementation of their solid waste management programs, which she said were fine-tuned to address the increase in the volume of healthcare waste generated during the pandemic.