City forms 10-year waste management plan

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government has formulated its 10-year Ecological Waste Management Plan to establish a road map aimed at reducing and managing its solid waste generation from 2018 to 2028.

This would ensure that the city government will implement an effective solid waste management (SWM) system until 2028.

"The current practice of segregated collection, processing, and disposal of solid waste appears to be adequate, but the adoption of new technology for SWM is essential to catch up with the increasing volume and nature of daily solid waste generation from residential, commercial and industrial establishments," read a portion of the plan.

In his message, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña committed to ensure that all areas of importance were given due attention and to maximize its available resources to improve delivery of basic services.

"Our city population grows, and so does the volume of solid wastes generated from different sources -from households, restaurants, public markets, and numerous business establishments. Mismanagement of solid wastes creates adverse effects on social and economic well-being of the Cebuano populace," he said, adding that the garbage problem is not only local but a global concern, since it poses threat and danger to the environment.

The Safe Closure and Rehabilitation of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill was also attached in the 10-year plan as well as the monitoring of the barangay's material recovery facilities as it improves the cost-effectiveness of the SWM system and livelihood projects through recycling programs.

One of the cited alternative technologies is the adoption of a Waste-to-Energy that turns garbage into resources that can be used by the city government.

The city has now 54 trucks, with 37 operational units, 13 units under repair and four units are beyond economical repair.

Under its existing garbage collection and disposal activity, the city is currently contracting 28 compactor trucks that assist the mainline street garbage collection of the city.

This year, the city will be purchasing compactor trucks to avoid leasing and engaging with private entity in the collection of garbage.

The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office is employing several measures and strategies to have a source-reduction-at-source as it continuously conducts information education campaign on waste segregation.

The 10-year plan was submitted to the City Council.

CENRO Head Ma. Nida Cabrera said the city will defend the plan before the Environmental Management Bureau in Manila.

Aside from the “reduce, reuse, recycle” strategy, the city is also promoting composting, which reduces waste disposal.

Cabrera said the city government is now preparing for the stricter regulation on the use of plastic and shopping bags, as there are two pending ordinances on the phasing out of the plastic materials in the city.

Last September 28, 2016, the City Government re-imposed the "No Segregation, No Collection" policy which is stipulated in the City Ordinance No. 2031.

The city government noted that an average of 500 tons of garbage per day is collected since private establishments like fast food chains and restaurants, hotels, and malls have contracted waste collection to private haulers that will go to their respective final disposal sites for residuals.

In the plan, the city sets its goals for the solid waste management until 2028 that includes to divert wastes from the landfill; to strictly enforce and monitor the implementation of solid waste management laws; to adopt and promote innovative and eco-friendly solid waste management technologies; to adopt and implement the integrated solid waste management system in its plans and programs; and to eliminate health risks to communities.

With this, the city intends to intensify the implementation of no segregation, no collection policy as it would help in the reduction of waste at the household level.

Aside from that, all 80 barangays will be asked to put up a material recovery facility in their respective areas to address the reduction of biowaste by providing a Takakura Method of Composting.

At least 20 of 80 barangays have already established their own composting facilities with the city's assistance on materials and equipment.

The city government aimed to implement polluters pay principle wherein the use of color-coded disposal bags will be paid at P1 to P2 per bag depending on the sizes.

It will also encourage different sectors to take part and support SWM initiatives and practices as part of their corporate social responsibilities.

As for the plan for final disposal, the Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board already endorsed to the executive department for the procurement of waste to energy project of the city with the private proponent to provide the technology and site of the facilities.

Cabrera said she is hoping that the Asian Development Bank will recommend to the original proponent that will undertake the waste to energy this month. — GAN (FREEMAN)