Residents in Dagupan City are starting to feel the effects of limited waste collection, after the city’s main disposal site in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, shut down temporarily for clearing operations.

For over a week, Dagupan City’s Waste Management Division (WMD) has not been able to dispose of garbage at the Metro Waste facility in Urdaneta City.

While the Integrated Waste Solution facility in the same city remains open, it only accepts pure plastics, not biodegradable waste. This limitation is now being felt in several barangays where uncollected trash is piling up outside homes.

“Kung nakakapagtapon tayo sa Metro Waste, nakakailang balik po tayo. Nahahakot ‘yung mga basura,” Bernard Cabison, head of the Dagupan City Waste Management Division, said.

He assured that the situation remains manageable, but admitted that barangays are experiencing some difficulties. WMD has now asked barangay officials to handle household waste more closely.

“Ang basura, ang mamamahala na ang barangay sa household. Kunin sa household, imbakin sa MRF (Materials Recovery Facility). Tayo ang kukuha sa MRF,” Cabison added.

In Barangay Malued, local leaders are enforcing the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy more strictly to help manage the backlog. Residents are being reminded to sort their garbage properly.

“Nauubos ang oras natin kung hindi natin isi-segregate. Nakukuha ng maayos ang basura kung mag-segregate,” Barangay Chairperson Filipina Delos Santos said.

Barangay officials are also planning to set clear schedules for garbage collection and hauling to the MRF while awaiting the reopening of Metro Waste.