THE amount of domestic waste being collected from households in Central Luzon has been increasing in the past weeks due to the strict home quarantine implemented by authorities to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Waste collection and disposal has been identified as one of the essential services by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), because the proper management of household waste becomes critical at a time like this to further safeguard public health.
A study shows that each household produces three kilos of garbage for a family of six daily. This translate to 90 kilos month of accumulated domestic waste.
In Capas, Tarlac, Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation's (MCWMC) engineered sanitary landfill maintains its operations with more than a hundred workers, drivers and helpers, as well as support staff continuing to provide hauling and disposal services, as well as accepting garbage at the company's disposal site.
"Garbage collectors and waste disposal site workers are also frontliners," said Vicky Gaetos, MCWM Executive vice president. "They are on duty 24/7 to address the mounting domestic waste being disposed from different households cross Central Luzon."
Gaetos said critical workers at the sanitary landfill asked to temporarily stay within the site premises to ensure that disposal of household waste from local government units and industrial clients continue uninterrupted during the ongoing health crisis.
The company has taken all the necessary precautions and is strictly implementing these policies inside its landfill facilities. These include social distancing, regular disinfection and all other necessary hygienic practices.
Domestic waste, if not disposed properly, will expose residents to additional health risks, said Gaetos, at a time when people must do everything so they can stay healthy.
She said garbage must be collected as soon as possible to prevent illnesses in the communities. Gaetos said that during the ongoing quarantine period, families from the grandparents to children are intact and staying home.
This has resulted in more domestic waste, both biodegradable and non-degradable, and is contributing to the piling up of garbage in different towns and cities in the region.
"Hindi lang virus ang makukuha sa basura na siyang pinagmumulan ng iba't ibang klase ng sakit kaya minabuti ng MCWMC na ipagpatuloy ang pagkolekta ng basura upang makatulong at maiwasan ang pagkalat ng mga karamdaman," she explained.
Gaetos also assured the continuance of collection and disposal of garbage of municipal wastes for as long as their daily services remain unhampered, particularly at checkpoints along and within the boundaries of provinces in Central Luzon.
She expressed her thanks to local government units who sent their passes and to the members of the Philippine National Police who allowed unhampered passage of all garbage trucks that haul the municipal waste from the waste transfer stations and material recovery facilities.
"MCWMC assures communities in Central Luzon of our continuing services amid the enhanced community quarantine, and this time of crisis. We are ready to haul your domestic wastes," Gaetos said. (JTD)