by Jose Angelo Hokson
The Republic Act no. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is a very important environmental act in the country. As the title implies, it sets some regulations, restrictions, creation of establishments, incentives, etc., related to solid wastes and solid waste management. This law requires the establishment of materials recovery facilities (MRF), as stated in Chapter III, Article 4, Section 32. Under RA 9003, each barangay or cluster of barangays is required to create a MRF in its own barangay-owned land. A MRF must be able to efficiently accommodate processing, storage, and transport of solid wastes in the barangay. The design of the facility and the selection of land are subject to the regulations of the act and the law.
A very common materials recovery facility in the City of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija only includes separate containers or space allocations for recyclable solid wastes. This, sadly, is very far from the MRFs in Metro Manila like Marikina City’s MRF. However, considering the waste generation, treatment and management in far-from- Manila provinces, one can say that comparing the MRFs is out of context.
A very common materials recovery facility in the City of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija only includes separate containers or space allocations for recyclable solid wastes. This, sadly, is very far from the MRFs in Metro Manila like Marikina City’s MRF. However, considering the waste generation, treatment and management in far-from- Manila provinces, one can say that comparing the MRFs is out of context.
The Materials Recovery Facilities of Barangay Caalibangbangan (Left) and Barangay Polilio(Right) in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
I was able to visit two MRFs in Cabanatuan City, one in Brgy. Caalibangbangan, and another one in Brgy. Polilio. The former is made of steel, while the latter is made of concrete. Both follow the segregation scheme for dry-recyclable-wastes. However, the amount of waste in both facilities is interestingly countable by my fingers in my two hands. According to some people, who reside very near the MRFs, the facilities are not being used and haven’t been used since construction. This may mean many things.
As a citizen of Cabanatuan City, I know that garbage trucks collect all biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes at least once a week separately in each barangay. I would like to say that convenience is very important to Filipinos, especially those living in urban areas. And these two things, truck collection and convenience, may be the main reasons why the two MRFs in Brgy. Caalibangbangan and Brgy. Polilio are not being utilized. However, for me, the two barangay's government officials can also be blamed for the non-usage of these facilities. Proper campaigns regarding the MRFs were not held, at least in my knowledge, in both barangays. But, as my sister would say, at least they have MRFs.
Materials recovery facilities are set to guide and help barangays in managing solid wastes properly. The establishments of these facilities are mandated by law to lessen the negative impacts of Filipinos to the environment. Hopefully, these facilities would be properly utilized soon by each barangay in the whole country.
References:
- Republic Act No. 9003. The LAWPHiL project site. http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2001/ra_9003_2001.html
- Materials Recovery Facility. Department of Environment and Natural Resources