Authorities flag 5 landfills in ‘critical condition’

On April 10, the Navotas Sanitary Landfill caught fire due to methane buildup, raising air pollution levels in nearby areas in Metro Manila. It took a month before the fire was put out. —Photo courtesy of Bongbong Marcos FB MANILA, Philippines — Five sanitary landfills, one in Metro Manila and the rest in the provinces, are at risk of catching fire, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) told the Senate committee on environment, natural resources and climate change on Monday during a hearing on solid waste management. Director Michael Matias of the EMB, which is under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), identified the following landfills as being at risk for “danger of fire”—Navotas Sanitary Landfill, Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill in Rodriguez, Binaliw Sanitary Landfill in Cebu City, Davao City Sanitary Landfill, and Urdaneta Sanitary Landfill in Pangasinan. Sen. Risa Hontiveros cited the need for preemptive measures against potential hazards from landfills that are already in “critical condition.” Article continues after this advertisement READ: Navotas landfill fire extinguished – Marcos On April 10, the Navotas landfill caught fire due to methane buildup, raising air pollution levels in nearby areas in Metro Manila. It took a month before the fire was put out. ‘Trash-slides’ Last February, a person was killed after a garbage mound in the Rodriguez, Rizal landfill collapsed.This was preceded by another trash-slide in the Binaliw landfill in Cebu in January, which killed 36 and injured 18. READ: Navotas landfill fire may leave lasting toxic threat to Manila Bay food chain Matias said the Davao City landfill is undergoing “safe closure and rehabilitation” after it was ordered closed on June 20. Article continues after this advertisement As for the Urdaneta City Landfill, a plan for its P459-million upgrade and rehabilitation was proposed in 2024, four years after the DENR ordered a cease and desist order against the facility for violating the Philippine Clean Water Act. ‘Default solution’ Hontiveros said it was ironic that the “critical” landfills were in highly urbanized areas that had more resources. Article continues after this advertisement She pointed out that the tragedies involving landfills were not mere accidents or isolated incidents, calling these “symptoms of a much deeper problem—a failure of governance and failure of implementation in our waste management.” “Our laws are clear. Landfills are meant to be the last resort and not the default solution. But gaps in the implementation of waste reduction, segregation, and recycling at the local level continue to push large volumes of waste into landfills,” Hontiveros said. /cb Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.