ILOILO – The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) approved the 10-year solid waste management plans of the local government units (LGUs) of Ajuy, Maasin and Mina.
This brought to 24 the number of LGUs in this province with approved solid waste management plans, said Mitzi Peñaflorida, senior environmental management specialist of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Under Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, solid waste are “all discarded household, commercial waste, non-hazardous institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural waste, and other non-hazardous/non-toxic solid waste.”
The solid waste plans of Ajuy, Maasin and Mina were approved on Oct. 29.
The 21 other LGUs with NSWMC-approved waste plans were Igbaras, Miag-ao, Tubungan, New Lucena, Pavia, Santa Barbara, Zarraga, Badiangan, Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, Pototan, Banate, Dingle, Dueñas, Batad, San Rafael, Anilao, Concepcion, and San Dionisio, and the component city of Passi.
Solid waste management refers to the discipline associated with the control of generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations, and that is also responsive to public attitudes.
According to Peñaflorida, a solid waste management plan is an LGU’s guide in implementing programs and projects in line with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
RA 9003 prohibits local governments from operating open or controlled dumpsites and mandates them to, among others, establish materials recovery facilities, also known as ecology centers, in every barangay or cluster of barangays to promote waste prevention and reduction in the grassroots level.
A materials recovery facility includes a solid waste transfer station or sorting station, drop-off center, a composting facility, and a recycling facility.
Peñaflorida urged other LGUs to craft their own solid waste management plans. RA 9003 mandates this, she stressed./PN
