Residents of La Trinidad, Benguet are encouraged to strictly observe and practice waste segregation to lessen the volume of waste the municipality is hauling to Capas, Tarlac.
The waste segregation will also help in prolonging the use of the town’s engineered sanitary landfill at Barangay Alno, according to Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Arthur Pedro.
Pedro reported the municipality is generating an average of 35 tons of residual wastes from residences, business establishments, and institutions.
The wastes collected are brought to the cell three extension of the Alno ESL while the excess wastes from the main cell three are hauled to Tarlac.
The municipality started operating cell three in 2017 but it stopped its operation in 2022 after it exceeded its capacity that is why the excess wastes are hauled out to maintain its structural integrity. The cell three extension was constructed in 2020 and began operating last year.
“The cell three extension is smaller compared to the main cell three. We are looking at proper waste segregation as a means to maximize the space since it is limited and has a limited lifespan, it will certainly be filled to the brim,” Pedro said.
The National Solid Waste Management Commission reported residuals are solid wastes that are non-compostable and non-recyclable including sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, worn-out rugs, ceramics, plastic-lined cartons, and candy wrappers.
Meanwhile, Pedro said the municipality has a high compliance to waste segregation because of the continuous information education campaign in the barangays and its “Bantay Basura” program.
The 160 bantay basura advocates spread out in the barangays oversee each collection point, ensuring waste segregation at source.
Only Barangay Bineng has no bantay basura advocate as it has only one collection point which the barangay handles.
Menro also regularly posts reminders in its Facebook account as well as violators of the ecological waste management law.
“This is not to shame people but to show them that we don’t tolerate these kinds of behaviors. We also issue them citation tickets once we apprehend them indiscriminately throwing garbage without the proper schedule or throwing it anywhere,” Pedro said.
He said the municipality has set up CCTV surveillance cameras in strategic areas to monitor the violators of the law as well as accidents. – Ofelia C. Empian
