Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City now partially operational after trash slide

The Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7) on Monday confirmed that the partial operations of the Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City has been approved, four months after the massive trash slide that killed 36 people.

This means only a 2,000 square meter portion of the facility can be used to accommodate up to 20,000 metric tons of waste, according to Ian Cruz’s report on State of the Nation on Monday.

The EMB-7 conducted rehabilitation and mitigation measures after the tragedy.

It said the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of the landfill operator was also revised, particularly in strengthening engineering components to ensure the facility’s safety.

“Bago nag-issue ang aming office ng partial lifting order, nagsagawa kami ng actual site verification at nag install ng liners para sa leachate at leachate pipes,” said John Roy Kyamko of EMB 7.

(Before our office issued the partial lifting order, we conducted an actual site verification and installed liners for leachate as well as leachate pipes.)

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A multipartite monitoring team was also formed for environmentally-critical projects such as the landfill.

The Cebu City local government, however, will not bring its waste to the landfill yet.

Instead, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival ordered the formation of a Waste Crisis Task Force to manage waste disposal at the landfill.

The Mandaue City local government will also do the same as it seeks clarification on the resumption of operations from its operator, Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, which has yet to issue a statement on the issue. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/JMA, GMA News