DENR open to incinerators to solve garbage woes

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is open to using incinerators to solve Metro Manila’s garbage woes.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje admitted government would be open to the technology if they are economical and can assure zero-emissions as prescribed by Republic Act 90-03 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“We are open to all solutions, the question is: is it economical. That’s what’s limiting right now,” he said in an interview on ANC’s “Headstart.”

Paje, however, said state-of-the-art incinerators that can substantially reduce waste could be an option for areas like Metro Manila and Pasay.

Incinerators are not an option at this time given the prohibitive cost of power use. The cost of the technology itself runs to millions of dollars.

“If we allow incineration of our waste, we must avail of state-of-the-art technology, almost zero emission. The only problem is the Philippines is one of the highest in terms of electricity cost and incineration is basically electricity. If power [cost] is so high, it becomes uneconomical.”

Paje said that in its August 2002 decision interpreting the Clean Air Act, the Supreme Court did not ban incineration, but rather toxic fumes if emissions from incinerators exceeded acceptable standards.

“In the Philippines, it’s only the landfill wer’e encouraging, we’re not encouraging every municipality to put up a landfill. They should group themselves and put the landfill in a strategic position where municipalities can bring their waste.”

But some studies also show a culture of zero waste far exceeds the benefits of incinerator use.

Segregation at source

Contrary to the law that says only waste for final disposal should be sent to the country’s landfills, practice has shown it becomes the destination of unsegregated waste.

Paje said the DENR is urging barangays to implement segregation at source and to penalize households and collectors who fail to comply with the law.

He noted that Metro Manila could be sitting on a man-made calamity if it fails to manage its waste at source as prescribed by law.

“RA 9003, one of most detailed laws, prescribes how waste should be managed. It has to be done from the household level. It’s very clear segregation must be done at source.”

“In Metro Manila, we have to penalize collectors up to half-a-million pesos, by law, if they collect unsegregated garbage,” he said. “Figures namin around 8,000 metric tons (of trash is produced) per day. 30% is uncollected only 70% is collected.”

Paje pointed out the 30% of about 2,000 tons of trash make their way to the Manila Bay every single day.

Solving the garbage problem, he said, depends on improving compliance and discipline, not just among illegal settlers who make up 20% to 25% of the population, but also residents in subdivisions and condominiums thoughout the metro, who at 70% of the population, are the bigger waste contributor.

“If we focus on the 70% who are capable of complying with the law, hindi ba success yun. If we succeed with the 70%, tama na muna siguro yun. We will solve the problem (with illegal settlers) in a different manner.”

Paje said a number of LGUs have been given notices for violations, and cases filed before the Ombudsman.

Irisan dumpsite

Paje said the DENR is looking at making Baguio city officials accountable for the collapse of the Irisan dumpsite.

The DENR said the LGU failed to comply with the structural requirement of the dumpsite,

“In the closure program, we required terracing so there will be no slide, we could manage the garbage. We required them to do a drainage system that will remove the water from the Irisan dump,” he explained.

“The wall that collapsed was part of the closure program. It’s a retaining wall that we required so it would not affect the residents below. Ang problema structurally… maybe they computed the weight of the waste, but they failed to realize precipitation as high as this would come.”

Paje noted, officials had also failed to enforce a no habitation zone.

“That area in Irisan has been declared highly susceptible for landslides, and the areas around it as no habitation zone. If they followed this geohazard map, they would not have allowed residents to stay there.”

Paje noted despite the dumpsite’s closure in 2008, dumping activities continued.

“Residents said they used it as a material recovery facility where they segregate waste. Supposedly, if its a material recovery facility you don’t dump, you segregate the waste. Somehow, we have reports it’s still being used as a dumpsite.”

It will take nearly a week to remove almost 15,000 tons of trash from the area and clear Asin road.

“Dapat sabihin sa amin kung saan dinadala and basura ng Baguio. Up to April, they used to bring it to (a sanitary landfill in) Capas, Tarlac. Now (temporarily) to the old Irisan quarry, then to Urdaneta or Capas, Tarlac.”

But, Paje said, there may be a question of economics as some local government units don’t want to be straddled with the price of paying for space to hold their trash.

“Urdaneta City is charging Baguio P2,500/metric ton. Baguio is having problems and can’t decide between Urdaneta or Capas, Tarlac.”

Olongapo rockslide

When it comes to the risk of calamity, Paje says, the same risks proved true for Santa Rita and Tabacungan in Olongapo, where homes were built in areas identified as unsuitable for habitation.

“We’ve marked that as highly susceptible for rockslides and we have given warnings to LGUs and designated the area as no habitation zone.”

Today, Paje says local governments should strictly enforce warnings, according to the dangers indentified in geohazard maps.
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By: Caroline Howard, ANC
Source: abs-cbnnews.com, Sept. 1, 2011
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