Current regulation that places a ban on waste to energy (WtE) processes in the Philippines could come under review after a senator has sought to amend the policy.
The Clean Air Act introduced in 1999 currently states that “incineration, hereby defined as the burning of municipal, biomedical and hazardous wastes, which process emits poisonous and toxic fumes, is hereby prohibited”.
Instead, it states that municipalities are “mandated to promote, encourage and implement in their respective jurisdiction a comprehensive ecological waste management [plan] that includes waste segregation,recycling and composting”.
However, following what has come to be known as a “trash slide” in late August, in which a retaining wall collapsed at a landfill site resulting in thousands of tonnes of waste flowing out in Baguio City, questions have been raised over the ban and waste disposal reaches capacity.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has reportedly filed a bill to amend the Clean Air Act and relax the current ban on WtE technology.
According to the Manila Bulletin, Trillanes said that due to recent waste problems in the country, waste must be properly disposed in a manner that will not become a significant environmental burden.
He was reported to have said: “This technology provides for the safe disposal of waste without harmful emissions to the atmosphere, and at the same time, offers maximum benefits from the recovery of the valuable contents of the wastes from our cities…this is suitable for use in the country since it is difficult to secure final disposal sites due to our limited land space.”
Since the introduction of the Act over 10 years ago, WtE technologies have advanced considerably for the treatment of waste and Trillanes noted that elsewhere in Asia, Japan has advanced in emission control.
