NSWMC stresses importance of creating sanitary landfills
QUEZON CITY, September 8 (PIA) — Most of us probably do not mind where our wastes go. We could even care less if we are disposing them properly or not. But what Deputy Director Eligio Ildefonso of the National Solid Waste Management Commission told during today’s “Talking Point” could changed everyone’s attitude towards disposing wastes.
Ildefonso said that wastes collected from communities are dumped either in sanitary landfills, open dumpsites, and controlled dumpsites located, with significant distance, from human settlements, all across the country.
He further said that many of the wastes we are generating are just being indiscriminately thrown in creeks, unoccupied lots, and in drainages. And as a consequence of this indiscriminate waste disposal, drainages are clogged, creeks are polluted, and open lots emit harmful vapors.
Republic Act 9003, which is the Ecological Solid Wastes Management Act of 2000, mandates the creation of Sanitary Landfills and outlawing the exercise of utilizing Open Dump and Controlled Dump Sites. These sanitary landfills are created to reduce the considerable impact of our wastes to the environment and to human health, the law states.
R.A. 9003 defines sanitary landfill as waste disposal site properly designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in a manner that poses the least environmental impact.
A controlled dumpsite, on the other hand, is defined as a disposal site in which solid wastes is deposited in accordance with the minimum prescribed standards of site operations to minimize possible adverse impact on the environment.
Meanwhile, an open dumpsite is defined as a disposal area where solid waste are indiscriminately thrown or disposed of without due planning and consideration for environment and health standards.
The National Solid Waste Management Commission listed 80 active sanitary landfills across the country. The National Capital Region has one located at Brgy. Tanza, Navotas City. Controlled dumpsites listed a total of 382 that includes two sites which caters to Metro Manila residents. Meanwhile, there are a total of 790 open dumpsites nationwide.
NSWMC is actively engaging local government units (LGUs) to urgently implement the Ecological Solid Wastes Management Act of 2000. The commission specifically urges LGUs to establish sanitary landfills and is gradually closing down open dumpsites and controlled dumpsites.
Director Ildefonso further stressed the importance of strictly practicing waste segregation in our homes and how it can significantly help in the government’s drive to combat the current problem we have with garbage disposal.(PND/PE-PIA GHQ/PIA-CALAPAN CITY)
Tags: PIA, Sanitary Landfills, Solid Waste Management
