CENTRAL Luzon produces more than 5,000 tons of garbage, including agricultural, industrial, medical, and domestic wastes, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
This figure is collected daily in seven provinces and two cities but only 12 sanitary landfills exist to accommodate these wastes.
The garbage also included recyclables and non-biodegradable materials.
Residual waste is common in open dumpsites, which is the subject of complaints due to health hazards and foul smell, said Andresito Cabalar of the Solid Waste Management Office of the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Luzon.
"It's the reason why our office has to shut down open dumpsite due to pollution and violation of the Ecological and Solid Waste Management Act," Cabalar added.
He added LGUs must have an approved 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan to address the mounting garbage problem.
"We also encouraged LGUs to recycle and segregates those biodegradable and non-biodegradable in their respective Material Recovery Facilities (MRF). A total of 117 composter and shredding machines have been distributed to different cities and municipalities in the region to complement with their respective solid waste management plan," Cabalar said.
He added the Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC), the only engineered sanitary landfill in Central Luzon, is a big help in Central Luzon's waste management.
The MCWMC has 70 hectares of land that can accommodate various kinds of garbage including medical wastes.
Its capacity is more than 20 tons of garbage per day and only 17 hectares of the land have been utilized.
Cabalar said the campaign against open dumpsite is part of the DENR-EMB program.
According to him, five LGUs in Central Luzon were being monitored due to open dumpsites.
Several prohibited garbage depository areas were recently shut down by the DENR-EMB.
Cabalar said violation of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act against two of the LGUs in Sta. Ana in Pampanga and Malolos City in Bulacan were endorsed to the Department of Interior and Local Government for action.
"Administrative cases against the two LGUs have been endorsed to DILG," said Cabalar.
He said other areas with open dumpsites are the towns of Talavera in Nueva Ecija, Angeles City and Dipaculao, Aurora.
The three LGUs were issued Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan.
"We made sure that these dumpsites will cease and desist from operation by regularly monitoring the concerned areas," Cabalar said.