Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 23) — All open dumpsites in the country have been closed down, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Sunday.
In an issued statement, the DENR said it completed the closure of the 335 open dumpsites across the Philippines following the strict enforcement of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The RA 9003 prohibits open dumping of waste. Under the law, waste should be disposed of in a materials recovery facility or sanitary landfill.
“With the closure of all open dumpsites, LGUs have the option to bring their solid waste to existing sanitary landfills (SLF) or to a residual containment area,” the DENR said.
The agency noted LGUs can tap a residual containment area as temporary storage of their wastes while negotiating an agreement with another LGU operating a sanitary landfill.
The country has 237 operational sanitary landfills. Eleven are under construction, the DENR noted.
“Local government units may ask the technical assistance of EMB (Environmental Management Bureau) on how to conduct the Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan for the respective dumpsites in their areas of jurisdiction,” DENR undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda was quoted as saying in the statement.
