Waste-to-Energy Debate Ignites in Cebu Amid Landfill Crisis and Legal Amendments
During a media visit to Taipei, Taiwan, several years ago, journalists from Cebu were taken to a revolving restaurant atop a tower built over a waste incinerator. This experience starkly contrasts with the situation in the Philippines, where laws strictly prohibit the burning of waste. The primary legislation is Republic Act No. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which bans open burning of garbage.
Legal Penalties and Environmental Concerns
Violators of RA 9003 face fines ranging from a minimum of P300 to a maximum of P1,000, or imprisonment from at least one day up to 15 days. This law is reinforced by Republic Act No. 8749, the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, which explicitly prohibits incineration. Section 20 of this act states, Ban on Incineration. - Incineration, hereby defined as the burning of municipal, bio-medical and hazardous wastes, which process emits poisonous and toxic fumes, is hereby prohibited.
The ban covers municipal waste, bio-medical waste, and hazardous waste that produce toxic fumes. Municipal waste refers to community garbage generated by residents in a specific area. However, the law does not apply to small, traditional practices such as community bonfires, farm burning, cooking fires, barbecuing, or cremation of human remains.
Crisis in Metro Cebu and Push for Legal Amendments
The recent collapse of the 20-story high Binaliw landfill on January 8, which claimed 36 lives, has triggered a severe waste crisis in Metro Cebu. The landfill's operations were halted, exacerbating disposal challenges. In response, officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are advocating for amendments to the laws banning incineration.
Environment Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla has highlighted that new incineration technologies now produce fumes that are less harmful to the environment. Consequently, DENR has engaged with Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to propose amendments to the solid waste management law. Arroyo, who signed the original law 25 years ago during her presidency, is reportedly pushing for these changes to allow waste-to-energy (WTE) and other technologies that comply with Philippine emission standards.
Environmental Opposition and Local Government Challenges
Under RA 9003, incineration is prohibited as a waste treatment and resource recovery method. Environmental groups strongly oppose waste incineration due to its detrimental effects on public health and the environment. The act mandates local governments to manage waste, supported by the national government and private sector. However, the Binaliw landfill collapse has left Metro Cebu, particularly Cebu City, grappling with a waste management crisis.
Local officials from Minglanilla and Talisay City have refused to accept garbage from Cebu City. While Toledo City and Aloguinsan are willing to accept waste, these locations are distant and impractical for disposal. If waste-to-energy is permitted, Cebu City could convert accumulated waste into fuel for power plants, generating electricity and potentially earning revenue instead of spending up to P600 million annually on waste disposal.
