Binaliw landfill set to operate soon

CEBU, Philippines — The controversial 15-hectare sanitary landfill and material recovery facility in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City will be operational soon.

This, after the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) is set to approve this week the accreditation of the ARN Builders Inc., developer of the said facility.

Under existing environmental laws, the firm should secure permit or accreditation from the concerned local government unit in the establishment or operation of disposal site for trash.

CCENRO and Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) Head Nida Cabrera said they will scrutinize the documents of ARN Builders.

Among the factors they will look into is the capability of the said company to dispose and process trash.

"Gitan-aw namo if naa ba sila'y hauling or pwede ba sila maka-haul og basura, naa ba silay equipment. I-assess na nato and if ready naba ang facility," Cabrera said.

The SWMB is composed of representatives from the Department of Public Services, City Council's committee on environment, Department of Science and Technology, Environmental Management Bureau, public sectors and others.

Cabrera said the city government is expected to accredit qualified landfill operator or developer.

She said once ARN Builders gets the accreditation from the city, the former is already allowed to operate the landfill facility.

"As service provider, gi-allow namo sila nga mo-privately collect sa mga business establishments, og naa'y magpa-collect sa ilaha," Cabrera said.

She also said that ARN is on its way of establishing a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility which will process the trash.

In 2018, ARN Builders began developing the 15-hectare property in Barangay Binaliw after securing various permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, such as Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

In August 2018, the City Council has approved the special land use application of the said developer for the sanitary landfill and central recovery facility.

Cabrera said once the new dumping facility in the mountain barangay will be operational, the city government might enter a contract with ARN Builders.

Earlier, the executive department announced that they are working on the idea of disposing the city's generated trash to the private-owned landfill to lessen garbage hauling expenses.

"It might be kung okay na sila (ARN builders) by June. If ready na sila, pwede na maka-start ang city to negotiate with ARN," Cabrera said.

At present, the city government has a service provider, Jomara Konstruckt Inc., that would haul the trash to private-owned landfill with a contract period from January to June this year.

The city has no existing operational landfill at present after the Inayawan dumping site was closed due to its environmental violations and non-compliance to sanitary requirements. (FREEMAN)