MANILA — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is seeking more technologies that will help local government units (LGUs) nationwide undertake solid waste management (SWM).
“We’ll be looking into new technologies for addressing the garbage problem,” said DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones.
He said the extent of waste generation nationwide highlights the need for SWM-promoting technologies.
“The country already generates about 40 tons of waste daily,” he said.
SWM is “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,” reads RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
“Solid waste shall refer to 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,” RA 9003 reads further.
LGUs nationwide are primarily responsible for implementing RA 9003 in their respective areas.
Leones stressed compliance with RA 9003 is among DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu’s priorities.
Since solid waste taints even water bodies, Leones said the DENR had earlier tasked Environment Undersecretary Ipat Luna with addressing pollution in Manila Bay, Pasig River, and Laguna Lake.
He said Luna will also look into related water concerns. (Catherine Teves/PNA)
