Thursday, July 10, 2008 Reopening of Montalban landfill opposed
THE private operator of the 14-hectare sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal on Wednesday objected to the proposed dumpsite's reopening.
The operator also questioned the discount offered by Mayor Pedro Cuerpo to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and private garbage haulers.
Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist, Inc. (Swims), a private company that operates the closed sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal, said the 40 percent discount in tipping fee offered by Cuerpo "has no leg to stand on since that facility has long been closed down because the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) and other government environmental agencies have determined that its usefulness is over."
"We are no longer operating that facility of ours and we have no intention of reopening it," said Andy Santiago, lawyer for the firm.
Santiago also questioned statements attributed to Cuerpo alleging that the NSWMC has issued a certification regarding the lifespan of the closed sanitary landfill as he stressed that "there is no such certification from the NSWMC."
Last week, Cuerpo announced the reopening of the 14-hectare Montalban Solid Waste Disposal Facility (Montalban landfill) and the 40 percent discount to the MMDA and private garbage haulers who plan to use it.
He likewise said that the landfill still has two years remaining in its lifespan.
"The sanitary landfill can still accommodate garbage for up to two years. Much savings can be generated if the concerned government agencies and officials will take a look at our proposal," said the mayor.
Authorities said the facility has a 50-year lifespan.
Cuerpo said the present rate the MMDA is paying the private landfill operator in disposing of the metropolis' garbage which stood at about P600 per metric ton (MT) will go down to P360 MT if his proposal is accepted.
"If the MMDA decides to utilize the MSWDF a considerable amount will be saved by the agency considering its official estimate that Metro Manila produces 8,000 tons of garbage daily," he said.
After its closure late last year, the Rizal Provincial Government then opened a new 19-hectare sanitary landfill to serve the requirements of the clustered and bigger municipalities of Rizal.
Cuerpo claimed that the opening of the new landfill is "illegal", and maintained that the Montalban landfill is open for the metropolis' wastes.
He said the MMDA will be able to save as much as P700 million on an annual basis if his proposal is accepted and the Montalban landfill is opened for use.
The MMDA is spending about P1.75 billion for the garbage disposal needs of the metropolis.
"I am very optimistic that the proposed reduction in the cost of garbage disposal will be highly considered by the MMDA and LGUs (local government units) of Metro Manila," Cuerpo said adding that the amount saved could then be used for other government projects.
But Santiago emphasized that the only facility opened in the town for accepting the metropolis garbage is the 19-hectare provincial landfill.
"We doubt if Mayor Cuerpo can claim any authority to offer discounts for the use of the Montalban landfill since the issue of the charges he previously attempted to impose on its users are now the subject of judicial proceedings," Santiago said.
At the same time, he asked Cuerpo to "spare our firm, our property and our town from this baseless discount scheme he is offering to the MMDA." (AH/Sunnex)
