The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has approved the adoption of the total solid waste management solution to help optimize waste recovery and utilization in sanitary landfills (SLFs).

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said this new innovation “shall help the DENR to expedite the goals of strictly implementing Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Management Act of 2000.”

“Through the Total Solid Waste Management Solution, we will be able to augment the capacity of SLFs and make these more useful to the local government units (LGUs),” Cimatu said.

“This strategy will also help lessen solid wastes that go into coastal areas and waterbodies all over the country, and will support the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay,” he added.

In a resolution signed by NSWMC Alternate Chair and DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGUs Concerns Benny D. Antiporda, the Commission will integrate processes and technologies for the management of biodegradable wastes, recyclable wastes, and residuals with potential for diversion, and the treatment of special wastes or household hazardous wastes before disposal.

He said the measure will help local LGUs to “enhance the processes by which they manage and treat their wastes.”

“We took into consideration both the capability and capacity of the LGUs to implement their targets in accordance with their 10-year solid waste management plan until such time that they are able to meet their maximum waste diversion target through materials recovery, composting and other resource recovery activities,” he explained.

Antiporda pointed out that the adoption of the concept of total solid waste management solution will ensure the optimum utilization of solid waste materials that enter SLFs.

“This enables SLFs to have an extended lifespan. As we are able to do so, we can maximize the land use in the different locations in each LGU,” he said.

Antiporda said the specific directives under the NSWMC resolution will be handed over to the regional offices through the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau for the proper integration of the Total Solid Waste Management Solution in the design and operation of the proposed SLF projects.

To date, 52 SLF projects nationwide are pending approval.

“With this resolution, hopefully, we would be able to make sure that the future SLFs will be maximized. We also hope that this new strategy would complement our move to advance the prohibition of non-environmentally acceptable products,” Antiporda said. ###