Metro trims down trash output

MARIKINA City topped the list of metro local government units
considered most compliant with waste management laws while Pateros
came in last in the list.

The Metro Manila Development Authority said all but one of the metro’s
17 LGUs were found to be making great strides in solid waste diversion
efforts as mandated by Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act.

MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno said recycling has boomed in
the metropolis, bringing down the volume of trash this year from 8,000
metric tons daily to 6,000.

He attributed the positive development to the efforts of the National
Solid Waste Management Commission to compel all local government units
in achieving 25 percent of waste reduction by 2010, and monitor and
track compliance with RA 9003.

“The law requires LGUs to undertake diversion programs through
recycling. MMDA’s role is to monitor the trash volume yearly,”
Nacienceno told the Manila Standard.

He said the law created NSWMC and mandated LGUs to adopt a 10-year
solid waste management plan.

“Many LGUs in the National Capital Region have reached and even
surpassed the required 25 percent reduction. One has flunked,” he
said.

An update from the MMDA’s Solid Waste Management Office, headed by
Alex Umagat, of the LGUs’ compliance with RA 9003 as of August 31
showed Marikina City had topped the list metro-wide with a 55 percent
recycling rate, followed by Makati City with 38 percent, Quezon City
with 37.78 percent, Muntinlupa City with 36.13 percent, Navotas City
with 36 percent and Pasig City with 35 percent.

Caloocan City was ranked seventh with 34.97 percent, Malabon with
32.75 percent, Pasay City with 32 percent, San Juan with 31.70
percent, and Valenzuela City with 31.32 percent.

Las Piñas City had 30.90 percent against Mandaluyong City’s 29.28
percent, Taguig City’s 28.05 percent, Manila’s 27.67 percent, and
Parañaque City’s 27.44 percent.

The municipality of Pateros flunked at 18.88 percent.

The agency strictly monitors the executive orders passed by the city
mayors as well as the approved ordinances supporting solid waste
management programs; the implementation of solid waste management
plans; the creation of the solid waste management committees; the
number of junk shops, material recovery facilities, composting centers
and multipurpose cooperatives; the door-to-door garbage collection;
the sanitary landfills, and the diversion efforts of each locality.

The overall compliance rate of Metro Manila with RA 9003 reached 33.11 percent.

The MMDA, however, did not elaborate on metro LGU compliance with two
other critical environmental laws – RA 9275 or the Clean Water Act and
RA 8749 or the Clean Air Act.

Posted in: Down trash output