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Monday. September 25, 2017
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REGIONAL Director Jim Sampulna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) challenged the city government of Iloilo to be strict with its garbage collection, specifically with the âno segregation, no collectionâ policy mandated by Section 21 of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. He raised the matter during a meeting on Sept. 18 for a massive information campaign on solid waste management.
The law requires segregation at source â such as households, institutions, commercial establishments, industries, etc. â to promote recycling, reuse and composting of resources and to cut waste volume for collection and disposal. Itâs practical, really. Source-separated discards are resources that we can reuse or recycle back into commerce or Mother Nature. Recycling conserves natural resources and prevents the destruction of ecosystems by delaying the extraction of raw materials, while creating jobs, reducing waste handling and disposal costs, and cutting pollution. Composting, on the other hand, produces beneficial compost that can be used as soil amendment to revitalize depleted soils, while preventing the production of landfill gases that contribute to global warming.
But why is segregation of discards at source poorly complied with? Perhaps there is low public awareness on the law and there is the lack of sustained public education on discards management. Also, local governments may not be strict in enforcing both the âno segregation, no collectionâ policy and the âsegregated collectionâ policy. In short, there is an absence of political will to execute the law. Corruption in waste management may also be blamed given the huge budget allocation for waste collection and disposal.
DENR-6 is on the right track for pursuing public information, education and mobilization on sustainable consumption and environmental protection with focus on waste prevention and reduction. It must press for the enforcement of the âno segregation, no collectionâ policy in local governments to compel all waste generators to strictly comply.
Hereâs a practical suggestion: local governments may designate an âenvironment policeâ even at the barangay level to issue citation tickets to households and other establishments that do not separate their discards, and also to garbage collectors who accept unsegregated discards. Having these environment police can be an effective tool to encourage people to comply with the law.
Causing or permitting the collection of unsegregated waste under Republic Act 9003 is punishable with a fine of P1,000 up to P3,000, or imprisonment of 15 days to six months, or both. But we guess people do not even know this.
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