DENR wants Lapu-Lapu garbage transfer station closed

The garbage transfer station in Lapu-Lapu City. | contributed photo

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7), has urged the Lapu-Lapu City Government to immediately close their garbage transfer station at the city’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Barangay Soong and implement safe closure and implementation plan.

This was based on the agency’s “Investigation Report,” dated August 25, 2023, after the homeowners association of a subdivision complained about the garbage transfer station that was just adjacent to the subdivision.

The investigation report was reviewed by the regional coordinator of the Solid Management Management of EMB-7, John Roy Kyamko, and approved by its chief environmental monitoring and enforcement division, Engr. Ranzel Dioko.

In its complaint in July last year, the homeowners association alleged open burning of garbage at the transfer station and complained of the foul odor emitted from the wastes disposed, especially at nighttime. A retaining wall was observed between the transfer station and the subdivision.

They also alleged that the garbage  transfer station has been operating as similar to an open dumpsite. 

On July 6, 2022, EMB-7 immediately inspected the transfer station and observed a significant increase in the quantity of waste stored in the transfer station compared to the last monitoring.

The overwhelming increase in the volume of collected waste and the irregular collection of the private hauler have allegedly caused an increase in the quantity of waste.

However, they only observed minimal foul odor during the inspection.

The agency also didn’t notice any traces of burning in the transfer station.

“However there is the possibility that instances of burning came from the junk shops near the vicinity,” portion of the report reads.

Remedial activities

The agency also found out that the city did not meet the minimum consideration for the establishment of a controlled dumpsite due to the absence of regular inert cover, surface water and peripheral site drainage control, and post-closure site cover and vegetation.

EMB-7 conducted a technical conference with Lawyer Danilo Almendras, Lapu-Lapu City Administrator, wherein he explained that the city has already conducted remedial activities to prevent the foul odor and proliferation of flies in the transfer station.

Aside from this, the city is also planning to strictly implement the segregation at source to reduce the wastes disposed in the landfill.

The city has processed the request for additional hauling services providers for faster hauling/transport of wastes from the transfer station to the sanitary landfill.

Aside from closing the transfer station, EMB-7 also recommended that the city fast-track its plans of directly transporting wastes from source to landfill, and implement the mandate of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, especially the strict implementation of the segregation at source and segregated collection.

/bmjo

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