Local News: Garbage Segregation At Source Key to Longer Life Span of Sanitary Landfill

The Bacolod Sanitary Landfill has started operating after the official turn-over of the project by the constructor to the city government. This will be the official dumpsite of garbage collected all over the city. It is estimated serviceable 3 to 5 years. The important key factor that will determine the life span of the sanitary landfill is the segregation of garbage right from the households or establishment. Thus,Mayor Evelio Leonardia emphasized to urge the constituents to segregate garbage so that these will not destroy the machine in the sanitary landfill that will crush the garbage. He also said garbage segregation is separating the biodegradables from the non-biodegradables, and recyclables.

DENR officials present during the turn over ceremony over the weekend, estimated the life span of the sanitary landfill to run up to 10 years if properly used.

Leonardia also cited the support of the barangay officials having passed a resolution accepting the establishment of sanitary landfill in the baran-gay.

Also, BACIWA general manager Atty. Julie Carbon has certified that there is no problem with the sanitary landfill in the area because the location is far from the BACIWA wells. Had BACIWA and DENR assessed that the sanitary landfill is hazardous to the public health, then we will leave the area, Leonardia stressed. Therefore the barangays have big roles and responsibility in making the sanitary landfill serve for a longer time.

They should implement the "no segregation, no collection" as a garbage policy.

The standard of Bacolod Sanitary landfill is comparable to the sanitary landfill in San Mateo, Rizal, since both were constructed by the same contractor, Same with the new government center of Bacolod City and the Makati City Hall, having the same contractor - the Hilmark Construction.

Therefore, we are at par with other big cities insofar as these projects are concerned, Leonardia said.*