CEBU, Philippines —Lapu-Lapu City is among the local government units (LGUs) most affected by the temporary closure of the Binaliw landfill following its collapse or landslide, as the site serves as the city’s primary waste disposal facility.
Mayor Cindi King Chan said the city has temporarily stopped hauling garbage to Binaliw due to safety concerns arising from the incident, prompting the local government to seek alternative measures to ensure the continued collection of waste from households.
To address the situation, Chan said the city has requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) to allow the operation of its transfer station located at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Barangay Soong, Mactan.
“This will allow us to continue garbage collection from households, and disposal, despite the suspension of operations at the Binaliw landfill,” the mayor said.
However, Chan appealed to residents to actively help reduce waste generation while the landfill remains closed. She urged the Oponganons (residents of Opon, the former name of Lapu-Lapu City) to strictly practice waste segregation, recycling, and composting at the household level.
Recyclable materials, such as plastic bottles, plastic cups, cardboard, and other reusable items, should be separated to prevent them from contributing to the city’s waste volume, she said.
Biodegradable waste, including dried leaves, fruit and vegetable peelings, food leftovers, and similar materials, may be disposed of through compost pits.
“We are doing everything we can to minimize waste while operations at the Binaliw landfill are still suspended,” Chan said.
The mayor also announced that the city will convene its Solid Waste Management Board this week for its first-quarter meeting to discuss and implement a purok-based waste segregation system, as well as other programs aimed at reducing, reusing, and recycling waste.
Chan called on all residents to cooperate with the city’s waste management initiatives, stressing that collective effort is crucial in addressing the ongoing garbage problem. (CEBU NEWS)