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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program which shall:

(a) Ensure the protection of the public health and environment;

(b) Utilize environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage resource conservation and recovery;

(c) Set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures, including composting, recycling, re-use, recovery, green charcoal process, and others, before collection, treatment and disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management facilities in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles;

(d) Ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration;

(e) Promote national research and development programs for improved solid waste management and resource conservation techniques, more effective institutional arrangement and indigenous and improved methods of waste reduction, collection, separation and recovery;

(f) Encourage greater private sector participation in solid waste management;

(g) Retain primary enforcement and responsibility of solid waste management with local government units while establishing a cooperative effort among the national government, other local government units, non- government organizations, and the private sector;

(h) Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among waste generators through the application of market-based instruments;

(i) Institutionalize public participation in the development and implementation of national and local integrated, comprehensive, and ecological waste management programs; and

(j) Strength the integration of ecological solid waste management and resource conservation and recovery topics into the academic curricula of formal and non-formal education in order to promote environmental awareness and action among the citizenry.

(a) Agricultural waste shall refer to waste generated from planting or harvesting of crops, trimming or pruning of plants and wastes or run-off materials from farms or fields;

(b) Bulky wastes shall refer to waste materials which cannot be appropriately placed in separate containers because of either its bulky size, shape or other physical attributes. These include large worn-out or broken household, commercial, and industrial items such as furniture, lamps, bookcases, filing cabinets, and other similar items;

(c) Bureau shall refer to the Environmental Management Bureau;

(d) Buy-back center shall refer to a recycling center that purchases of otherwise accepts recyclable materials from the public for the purpose of recycling such materials;

(e) Collection shall refer to the act of removing solid waste from the source or from a communal storage point;

(f) Composting shall refer to the controlled decomposition of organic matter by micro-organisms, mainly bacteria and fungi, into a humus-like product;

(g) Consumer electronics shall refer to special waste that includes worn-out, broken, and other discarded items such as radios, stereos, and TV sets;

(h) Controlled dump shall refer to a disposal site at which solid waste is deposited in accordance with the minimum prescribed standards of site operation;

(i) Department shall refer to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

(j) Disposal shall refer to the discharge, deposit, dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of any solid waste into or in an land;

(k) Disposal site shall refer to a site where solid waste is finally discharged and deposited;

(l) Ecological solid waste management shall refer to the systematic administration of activities which provide for segregation at source, segregated transportation, storage, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid waste and all other waste management activities which do not harm the environment;

(m) Environmentally acceptable shall refer to the quality of being re-usable, biodegradable or compostable, recyclable and not toxic or hazardous to the environment;

(n) Generation shall refer to the act or process of producing solid waste;

(o) Generator shall refer to a person, natural or juridical, who last uses a material and makes it available for disposal or recycling;

(p) Hazardous waste shall refer to solid waste management or combination of solid waste which because of its quantity, concentration or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics may:

(1) cause, or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness; or

(2) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed;

(q) Leachate shall refer to the liquid produced when waste undergo decomposition, and when water percolate through solid waste undergoing decomposition. It is contaminated liquid that contains dissolved and suspended materials;

(r) Materials recovery facility - includes a solid waste transfer station or sorting station, drop-off center, a composting facility, and a recycling facility;

(s) Municipal waste shall refer to wastes produced from activities within local government units which include a combination of domestic, commercial, institutional and industrial wastes and street litters;

(t) Open dump shall refer to a disposal area wherein the solid wastes are indiscriminately thrown or disposed of without due planning and consideration for environmental and Health standards;

(u) Opportunity to recycle shall refer to the act of providing a place for collecting source-separated recyclable material, located either at a disposal site or at another location more convenient to the population being served, and collection at least once a month of source-separated recyclable material from collection service customers and to providing a public education and promotion program that gives notice to each person of the opportunity to recycle and encourage source separation of recyclable material;

(v) Person(s) shall refer to any being, natural or judicial, susceptible of rights and obligations, or of being the subject of legal relations;

(w) Post-consumer material shall refer only to those materials or products generated by a business or consumer which have served their intended end use, and which have been separated or diverted from solid waste for the purpose of being collected, processed and used as a raw material in the manufacturing of recycled product, excluding materials and by-products generated from, and by-products generated from, and commonly used within an original manufacturing process, such as mill scrap;

(x) Receptacles shall refer to individual containers used for the source separation and the collection of recyclable materials;

(y) Recovered material shall refer to material and by products that have been recovered or diverted from solid waste for the purpose of being collected, processed and used as a raw material in the manufacture of a recycled product;

(z) Recyclable material shall refer to any waste material retrieved from the waste stream and free from contamination that can still be converted into suitable beneficial use or for other purposes, including, but not limited to, newspaper, ferrous scrap metal, non-ferrous scrap metal, used oil, corrugated cardboard, aluminum, glass, office paper, tin cans and other materials as may be determined by the Commission;

(aa) Recycled material shall refer to post-consumer material that has been recycled and returned to the economy;

(bb) Recycling shall refer to the treating of used or waste materials through a process of making them suitable for beneficial use and for other purposes, and includes any process by which solid waste materials are transformed into new products in such a manner that the original product may lose their identity, and which maybe used as raw materials for the production of other goods or services: Provided, That the collection, segregation and re-use of previously used packaging material shall be deemed recycling under this Act;

(cc) Resource conversation shall refer to the reduction of the amount of solid waste that are generated or the reduction of overall resource consumption, and utilization of recovered resources;

(dd) Resources recovery shall refer to the collection, extraction or recovery of recyclable materials from the waste stream for the purpose of recycling, generating energy or producing a product suitable for beneficial use: Provided, That such resource recovery facilities exclude incineration;

(ee) Re-use shall refer to the process of recovering materials intended for the same or different purpose without the alteration of physical and chemical characteristics;

(ff) Sanitary landfill shall refer to a waste disposal site designed, constructed, operated and maintained in a manner that exerts engineering control over significant potential environment impacts arising from the development and operation of the facility;

(gg) Schedule of Compliance shall refer to an enforceable sequence of actions or operations to be accomplished within a stipulated time frame leading to compliance with a limitation, prohibition or standard set forth in this Act or any rule of regulation issued pursuant thereto;

(hh) Secretary landfill shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

(ii) Segregation shall refer to a solid waste management practice of separating different materials found in solid waste in order to promote recycling and re-use of resources and to reduce the volume of waste for collection and disposal;

(jj) Segregation at source shall refer to a solid waste management practice of separating, at the point of origin, different materials found in solid waste in order to promote recycling and re-use of resources and to reduce the volume of waste for collection and disposal;

(kk) Solid waste shall refer to all discarded household, commercial waste, non-hazardous institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural waste, and other non-hazardous/non-toxic solid waste.

Unless specifically noted otherwise, the term “solid waste” as used in this Act shall not include:

(1) Waste identified or listed as hazardous waste of a solid, liquid, contained gaseous or semisolid form which may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or in serious or incapacitating reversible illness, or acute/chronic effect on the health of persons and other organisms;

(2) Infectious waste from hospitals such as equipment, instruments, utensils, and fomites of a disposable nature from patients who are suspected to have or have been diagnosed as having communicable diseases and must therefore be isolated as required by public health agencies, laboratory wastes such as pathological specimens (i.e. all tissues, specimens of blood elements, excreta, and secretions obtained from patients or laboratory animals) and disposable fomites that may harbor or transmit pathogenic organisms, and surgical operating room pathologic materials from outpatient areas and emergency rooms; and

(3) Waste resulting from mining activities, including contaminated soil and debris.

(ll) Solid waste management shall refer to the discipline associated with the control of generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations, and that is also responsive to public attitudes;

(mm) Solid waste management facility shall refer to any resource recovery system or component thereof; any system, program, or facility for resource conservation; any facility for the collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, or disposal of solid waste;

(nn) Source reduction shall refer to the reduction of solid waste before it enters the solid waste stream by methods such as product design, materials substitution, materials re-use and packaging restrictions;

(oo) Source separation shall refer to the sorting of solid waste into some or all of its component parts at the point of generation;

(pp) Special wastes shall refer to household hazardous wastes such as paints, thinners, household batteries, lead-acid batteries, spray canisters and the like. These include wastes from residential and commercial sources that comprise of bulky wastes, consumer electronics, white goods, yard wastes that are collected separately, batteries, oil, and tires. These wastes are usually handled separately from other residential and commercial wastes;

(qq) Storage shall refer to the interim containment of solid wastes after generation and prior to collection for ultimate recovery or disposal;

(rr) Transfer stations shall refer to those facilities utilized to receive solid wastes, temporarily store, separate, convert, or otherwise process the materials in the solid wastes, or to transfer the solid wastes directly from smaller to larger vehicles for transport. This term does not include any of the following:

(1) a facility whose principal function is to receive, store, separate, convert or otherwise process in accordance with national minimum standards, manure;

(2) a facility, whose principal function is to receive, store, convert, or otherwise process wastes which have already been separated for re-use and are intended for disposals, and

(3) the operations premises of a duly licensed solid waste handling operator who is receives, stores, transfers, or otherwise processes wastes as an activity incidental to the conduct of a refuse collection and disposal business.

(ss) Waste diversion shall refer to activities which reduce or eliminate the amount of solid waste from waste disposal facilities;

(tt) White goods shall refer to large worn-out or broken household, commercial, and industrial appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes washers and dryers collected separately. White goods ate usually dismantled for the recovery of specific materials (e.g., copper, aluminum, etc.);

(uu) Yard waste shall refer to wood, small or chipped branches, leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, vegetable residue that is recognized as part of a plant or vegetable and other materials identified by the Commission.

(1) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

(2) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

(3) Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

(4) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);

(5) Department of Health (DOH);

(6) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

(7) Department of Agriculture (DA);

(8) Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA);

(9) League of provincial governors;

(10) League of city mayors;

(11) League of municipal mayors;

(12) Association of barangay councils;

(13) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and

(14) Philippine Information Agency.

(a) A representative from non-government organizations (NGOs) whose principal purpose is to promote recycling and the protection of air and water quality;

(b) A representative from the recycling industry; and

(c) A representative from the manufacturing or packaging industry;

The Department Secretary and a private sector representative of the Commission shall serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. The private sector representatives of the Commission shall be appointed on the basis of their integrity, high decree of professionalism and having distinguished themselves in environmental and resource management. The members of the Commission shall serve and continue to hold office until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. Should a member of the Commission fail to complete his/her term, the unexpired portion of the term. Finally, the members shall be entitled to reasonable traveling expenses and honoraria.

The Department, through the Environmental Management Bureau, shall provide secretariat support to the Commission. The Secretariat shall be headed by an executive director who shall be nominated by the members of the Commission and appointed by the chairman.

Sec. 5. Powers and Functions of the Commission. - The Commission shall oversee the implementation of solid waste management plans and prescribe policies to achieve the objectives of this Act. The Commission shall undertake the following activities:

(a) Prepare the national solid waste management framework;

(b) Approve local solid waste management plans in accordance with its rules and regulations;

(c) Review and monitor the implementation of local solid waste management plans;

(d) Coordinate the operation of local solid waste management boards in the provincial and city/municipal levels;

(e) To the maximum extent feasible, utilizing existing resources, assist provincial, city and municipal solid waste management plans;

(f) Develop a model provincial, city and municipal solid waste management plan that will establish prototypes of the content and format which provinces, cities and municipalities may use in meeting the requirements of the National Solid Waste Management Framework;

(g) Adopt a program to provide technical and other capability building assistance and support to local government units in the development and implementation of source reduction programs;

(h) Develop and implement a program to assist local government units in the identification of markets for materials that are diverted from disposal facilities through re-use, recycling, and composting, and other environment-friendly methods;

(i) Develop a mechanism for the imposition of sanctions for the violations environmental rules and regulations;

(j) Manage the Solid Waste Management Fund;

(k) Develop and prescribe procedures for the issuance of appropriate permits and clearances.

(l) Review the incentives scheme for effective solid waste management, for purpose of ensuring relevance and efficiency in achieving the objectives of this Act;

(m) Formulate the necessary education promotion and information campaign strategies;

(n) Establish, after notice and hearing of the parties concerned, standards, criteria, guidelines, and formula that are fair, equitable and reasonable, in establishing tipping charges and rates that the proponent will charge in the operation and management of solid waste management facilities and technologies.

(o) Develop safety nets and alternative livelihood programs for small recyclers and other sectors that will be affected as a result of the construction and/or operation of solid waste management recycling plant or facility.

(p) Formulate and update a list of non-environmentally acceptable materials in accordance with the provisions of this Act. For this purpose, it shall be necessary that proper consultation be conducted by the Commission with all concerned industries to ensure a list that is based on technological and economic viability.

(q) Encourage private sector initiatives, community participation and investments resource recovery-based livelihood programs for local communities.

(r) Encourage all local government agencies and all local government units to patronize products manufactured using recycled and recyclable materials;

(s) Propose and adopt regulations requiring the source separation and post separation collection, segregated collection, processing, marketing and sale of organic and designated recyclable material generated in each local government unit; and

(t) Study and review of the following:

(i) Standards, criteria and guidelines for promulgation and implementation of an integrated national solid waste management framework; and

(ii) Criteria and guidelines for siting, design, operation and maintenance of solid waste management facilities.

Sec. 7. The National Ecology Center. - There shall be established a National Ecology Center under the Commission which shall provide consulting, information, training, and networking services for the implementation of the provisions of this Act.

In this regard, it shall perform the following functions:

(a) Facilitate training and education in integrated ecological solid waste management;

(b) Establish and manage a solid waste management information data base, in coordination with the DTI and other concerned agencies:

(1) on solid waste generation and management techniques as well as the management, technical and operational approaches to resource recovery; and

(2) of processors/recyclers, the list of materials being recycled or bought by them and their respective prices;
 

(c) Promote the development of a recycling market through the establishment of a national recycling network that will enhance the opportunity to recycle;

(d) Provide or facilitate expert assistance in pilot modeling of solid waste management facilities; and

(e) Develop, test, and disseminate model waste minimization and reduction auditing procedures for evaluating options.

Sec. 8. Role of the Department. - For the furtherance of the objectives of this Act, the Department shall have the following functions:

(a) Chair the Commission created pursuant to this Act;

(b) Prepare an annual National Solid Waste Management Status Report;

(c) Prepare and distribute information, education and communication materials on solid waste management;

(d) Establish methods and other parameters for the measurement of waste reduction, collection and disposal;

(e) Provide technical and other capability building assistance and support to the LGUs in the development and implementation of local solid waste management plans and programs;

(f) Recommend policies to eliminate barriers to waste reduction programs;

(g) Exercise visitorial and enforcement powers to ensure strict compliance with this Act;

(h) Perform such other powers and functions necessary to achieve the objectives of this Act; and

(i) Issue rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 10. Role of LGUs in Solid Waste Management. - Pursuant to the relevant provisions of R. A. No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local government code, the LGUs shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Act within their respective jurisdictions.

Segregation and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level specifically for biodegradable, compostable and reusable wastes: Provided, That the collection of non-recyclable materials and special wastes shall be the responsibility of the municipality or city.

Sec. 11. Provincial Solid Waste Management Board. - A Provincial Solid Waste Management board shall be established in every province, to be chaired by the governor. Its members shall include:

(a) All the mayors of its component cities and municipalities;

(b) One (1) representative from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to be represented by the chairperson of either the Committees on Environment or Health or their equivalent committees, to be nominated by the presiding officer;

(c) The provincial health and/or general services officers, whichever may be recommended by the governor;

(d) The provincial environment and natural resources officer;

(e) The provincial engineer;

(f) Congressional representatives from each congressional district within the province;

(g) A representative from the NGO sector whose principal purpose is to promote recycling and the protection of air and water quality;

(h) A representative from the recycling industry;

(i) A representative from the manufacturing or packaging industry; and

(j) A representative of each concerned government agency possessing relevant technical and marketing expertise as may be determined by the board.

In the case of Metro Manila, the Board shall be chaired by the chairperson of the MMDA and its members shall include:

(i) all mayors of its component cities and municipalities;

(ii) a representative from the NGO sector whose principal purpose is to promote recycling and the protection of air and water quality;

(iii) a representative from the recycling industry; and

(iv) a representative from the manufacturing or packaging industry.

The Provincial Solid Waste Management Board shall have the following functions and responsibilities:

(1) Develop a provincial solid waste management plan from the submitted solid waste management plans of the respective city and municipal solid waste management boards herein created. It shall review and integrate the submitted plans of all its component cities and municipalities and ensure that the various plan complement each other, and have the requisite components. The Provincial Solid Waste Management Plan shall be submitted to the Commission for approval.

The Provincial Plans shall reflect the general program of action and initiatives of the provincial government and implementing a solid waste management program that would support the various initiatives of its component cities and municipalities.

(2) Provide the necessary logistical and operational support to its component cities and municipalities in consonance with subsection (f) of Sec.17 of the Local Government Code;

(3) Recommend measures and safeguards against pollution and for the preservation of the natural ecosystem;

(4) Recommend measures to generate resources, funding and implementation of project and activities as specified in the duly approved solid waste management plans;

(5) Identify areas within its jurisdiction which have common solid waste management problems and are appropriate units are planning local solid waste management services in accordance with Section 41 hereof;

(6) Coordinate the efforts of the component cities and municipalities in the implementation of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Plan;

(7) Develop an appropriate incentive scheme as an integral component of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Plan;

(8) Convene joint meetings of the provincial, city and municipal solid waste management boards at least every quarter for purposes of integrating, synchronizing, monitoring and evaluating the development and implementation of its provincial solid waste management plan;

(9) Represent any of its component city or municipality in coordinating its resource and operational requirements with agencies of the national government;

(10) Oversee the implementation of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Plant;

(11) Review every two (2) years or as the need arises the Provincial Solid Waste Management Plan for purposes of ensuring its sustainability, viability, effectiveness and relevance in relation to local and international development in the field of solid waste management; and

(12) Allow for the clustering of LGUs for the solution of common solid waste management problems.

The City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Board shall be composed of the city or municipal mayor as head with the following as members:

a) One (1) representative of Sangguniang Panlungsod or the Sangguniang Bayan, preferably chairpersons of either the Committees on Environment or Health, who will be designated by the presiding officer;

b) President of the Association of Barangay Councils in the municipality or city;

c) Chairperson of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation;

d) A representative from NGOs whose principal purpose is to promote recycling and the protection of air and water quality;

e) A representative from the recycling industry;

f) A representative from the manufacturing or packaging industry; and

g) A representative of each concerned government agency possessing relevant technical and marketing expertise as may be determined by the Board.

The City and Municipal Solid Waste Management Boards shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

(1) Develop the City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan that shall ensure the long-term management of solid waste, as well as integrate the various solid waste management plans and strategies of the barangays in its area of jurisdiction. In the development of the Solid Waste Management Plan, it shall conduct consultations with the various sectors of the community;

(2) Adopt measures to promote and ensure the viability and effective implementation of solid waste management programs in its component barangays;

(3) Monitor the implementation of the City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan through its various political subdivisions and in cooperation with the private sector and the NGOs;

(4) Adopt specific revenue-generating measures to promote the viability of its Solid Waste Management Plan;

(5) Convene regular meetings for purposes of planning and coordinating the implementation of the solid waste management plans of the respective component barangays;

(6) Oversee the implementation of the City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan;

(7) Review every two (2) years or as the need arises the City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan for purposes of ensuring its sustainability, viability, effectiveness and relevance in relation to local and international developments in the field of solid waste management;

(8) Develop the specific mechanics and guidelines for the implementation of the City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan;

(9) Recommended to appropriate local government authorities specific measures or proposals for franchise or build-operate-transfer agreements with duly recognized institutions, pursuant to R. A.6957, to provide either exclusive or non-exclusive authority for the collection, transfer, storage, processing, recycling or disposal of municipal solid waste. The proposals shall take into consideration appropriate government rules and regulations on contracts, franchise and build-operate-transfer agreements;

(10) Provide the necessary logistical and operational support to its component cities and municipalities in consonance with subsection (f) of Sec. 17 of the Local Government Code;

(11) Recommended measures and safeguards against pollution and for the preservation of the natural ecosystem; and

(12) Coordinates the efforts of its components barangays in the implementation of the city or municipal Solid Waste Management Plan.

(a) Inventory of existing solid waste facilities;

(b) General waste characterization, taking into account the type, quantity of waste generated and estimation of volume and type of waste for reduction and recycling;

(c) Projection of waste generation;

(d) The varying regional geologic, hydrologic, climatic, and other factors vital in the implementation of solid waste practices to ensure the reasonable protection of:

(1) the quality of surface and groundwater from leachate contamination;

(2) the quality of surface waters from surface run-off contamination; and

(3) ambient air quality.

(e) Population density, distribution and projected growth;

(f) The political, economic, organizational, financial and management problems affecting comprehensive solid waste management;

(g) Systems and techniques of waste reduction, re-use and recycling;

(h) Available markets for recyclable materials;

(i) Estimated cost of collecting, storing, transporting, marketing and disposal of wastes and recyclable materials; and

(j) Pertinent qualitative and quantitative information concerning the extent of solid waste management problems and solid waste management activities undertaken by local government units and the waste generators: Provided, That the Department, in consultation with concerned agencies, shall review, update and publish a National Solid Waste Management Status Report every two (2) years or as the need arises.

(a) Analysis and evaluation of the current state, trends, projections of solid waste management on the national, provincial and municipal levels;

(b) Identification of critical solid waste facilities and local government units which will need closer monitoring and/or regulation;

(c) Characteristics and conditions of collection, storage, processing, disposal, operating methods, techniques and practices, location of facilities where such operating methods, techniques and practices are conducted, taking into account the nature of the waste;

(d) Waste diversion goal pursuant to Sec. 20 of this Act;

(e) Schedule for the closure and/or upgrading of open and controlled dumps pursuant to Sec. 37 of this Act;

(f) Methods of closing or upgrading open dumps for purposes of eliminating potential health hazards;

(g) The profile of sources, including industrial, commercial, domestic, and other sources;

(h) Practical applications of environmentally sound techniques of water minimization such as, but not limited to, resource conservation, segregation at source, recycling, resource recovery, including waste-to-energy generation, re-use and composting;

(i) A technical and economic description of the level of performance that can be attained by various available solid waste management practices which provide for the protection of public health and the environment;

(j) Appropriate solid waste facilities and conservation systems;

(k) Recycling programs for the recyclable materials, such as but not limited to glass, paper, plastic and metal;

(l) Venues for public participation from all sectors at all phases/stages of the waste management program/project;

(m) Information and education campaign strategies;

(n) A description of levels of performance and appropriate methods and degrees of control that provide, at the minimum, for protection of public health and welfare through:

(1) Protection of the quality of groundwater and surface waters from leachate and run-off contamination;

(2) Disease and epidemic prevention and control;

(3) Prevention and control of offensive odor; and

(4) Safety and aesthetics.

(o) Minimum criteria to be used by the local government units to define ecological solid waste management practices. As much as practicable, such guidelines shall also include minimum information for use in deciding the adequate location, design and construction of facilities associated with solid waste management practices, including the consideration of regional, geographic, demographic and climatic factors; and

(p) The method and procedure for the phaseout and the eventual closure within eighteen (18) months from the effectivity of this Act in case of existing open dumps and/or sanitary landfills located within an aquifer, groundwater reservoir or watershed area.

For LGUs which have considered solid waste management alternatives to comply with Sec. 37 of this Act, but are unable to utilize such alternatives, a timetable or schedule of compliance specifying the remedial measure and eventual compliance shall be included in the plan.

All local government solid waste management plans shall be subjected to the approval of the Commission. The plan shall be consistent with the national framework and in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of the policies set by the Commission; Provided, That in the province of Palawan, the local government solid waste management plan shall be approved by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, pursuant to R. A. No. 7611.

Sec. 17. The Components of the Local Government Solid Waste Management Plan. - The solid waste management plan shall include, but not limited to, the following components:

(a) City or Municipal Profile - The plan shall indicate the following background information on the city or municipality and its component barangays, covering important highlights of the distinct geographic and other conditions:

(1) Estimated population of each barangay within the city or municipality and population project for a 10-year period;

(2) Illustration or map of the city/municipality, indicating locations of residential, commercial, and industrial centers, and agricultural area, as well as dump, landfills and other solid waste facilities. The illustration shall indicate as well, the proposed sites for disposal and other solid waste facilities;

(3) Estimated solid waste generation and projection by source, such as residential, market, commercial, industrial, construction/demolition, street waste, agricultural, agro-industrial, institutional, other waste; and

(4) Inventory of existing waste disposal and other solid waste facilities and capacities.

(b) Waste characterization - For the initial source reduction and recycling element of a local waste management plan, the LGU waste characterization component shall identify the constituent materials which comprise the solid waste generated within the jurisdiction of the LGU. The information shall be representative of the solid waste generated and disposed of within the area. The constituent materials shall be identified by volume, percentage in weight or its volumetric equivalent, material type, and source of generation which includes residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, or other materials. Future revisions of waste characterization studies shall identify the constituent materials which comprise the solid waste disposed of at permitted disposal facilities.

(c) Collection and Transfer - The plan shall take into account the geographic subdivisions to define the coverage of the solid waste collection area in every barangay. The barangay shall be responsible for ensuring that a 100% collection efficiency from residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural sources, where necessary within its area of coverage, is achieved. Toward this end, the plan shall define and identify the specific strategies and activities to be undertaken by its component barangays, taking into account the following concerns:

(1) Availability and provision of properly designed containers or receptacles in selected collection points for the temporary storage of solid waste while awaiting collection and transfer to processing sites or to final disposal sites;

(2) Segregation of different types of solid waste for re-use, recycling and composting;

(3) Hauling and transfer of solid waste from source or collection points to processing sites or final disposal sites;

(4) Issuance and enforcement of ordinances to effectively implement a collection system in the barangay; and

(5) Provision of properly trained officers and workers to handle solid waste disposal.

The plan shall define and specify the methods and systems for the transfer of solid waste from specific collection points to solid waste management facilities.

(d) Processing - The Plan shall define the methods and the facilities required to process the solid waste, including the use of intermediate treatment facilities for composting, recycling, conversion and other waste processing systems. Other appropriate waste processing technologies may also be considered provided that such technologies conform with internationally-acceptable and other standards set in other standards set in other laws and regulations.

(e) Source reduction - The source reduction component shall include a program and implementation schedule which shows the methods by which the LGU will, in combination with the recycling and composting components, reduce a sufficient amount of solid waste disposed of in accordance with the diversion requirements of Sec. 20.

The source reduction component shall describe the following:

(1) strategies in reducing the volume of solid waste generated at source;

(2) measures for implementing such strategies and the resources necessary to carry out such activities;

(3) other appropriate waste reduction technologies that may also be considered, provided that such technologies conform with the standards set pursuant to this Act;

(4) the types of wastes to be reduced pursuant to Sec. 15 of this Act;

(5) the methods that the LGU will use to determine the categories of solid wastes to be diverted from disposal at a disposal facility through re-use, recycling and composting; and

(6) new facilities and expansion of existing facilities which will be needed to implement re-use, recycling and composting.
 

The LGU source reduction component shall include the evaluation and identification of rate structures and fees for the purpose of reducing the amount of waste generated, an other source reduction strategies, including but not limited to, programs and economic incentives provided under Sec. 46 of this Act to reduce the use of non-recyclable materials, replace disposable materials and products with reusable materials and products, reduce packaging, and increase the efficiency of the use of paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and other materials. The waste reduction activities of the community shall also take into account, among others, local capability, economic viability, technical requirements, social concerns’ disposition of residual waste and environmental impact: Provided, That, projection of future facilities needed and estimated cost shall be incorporated in the plan.

(f) Recycling - The recycling component shall include a program and implementation schedule which shows the methods by which the LGU shall, in combination with source reduction and composting components, reduce a sufficient amount of solid waste disposed of in accordance with the diversion requirements set in Sec .20.

The LGU recycling component shall describe the following:

(1) The types of materials to be recycled under the programs;

(2) The methods for determining the categories of solid wastes to be diverted from disposal at a disposal facility through recycling; and

(3) New facilities and expansion of existing facilities needed to implement the recycling component.

The LGU recycling component shall described methods for developing the markets for recycled materials, including, but not limited to, an evaluation of the feasibility of procurement preferences for the purchase of recycled products. Each LGU may determine and grant a price preference to encourage the purchase of recycled products.

The five-year strategy for collecting, processing, marketing and selling the designated recyclable materials shall take into account persons engaged in the business of recycling or persons otherwise providing recycling services before the effectivity of this Act. Such strategy may be base upon the results of the waste composition analysis performed pursuant to this Section or information obtained in the course of past collection of solid waste by the local government unit, and may include recommendations with respect to increasing the number of materials designated for recycling pursuant to this Act.

The LGU recycling component shall evaluate industrial, commercial, residential, agricultural, governmental and other curbside, mobile, drop-off and buy-back recycling programs, manual and automated materials recovery facilities, zoning, building code changes and rate structures which encourage recycling of materials. The Solid Waste Management Plan shall indicate the specific measures to be undertaken to meet the waste diversion specified under Sec. 20 of this Act.

Recommended revisions to the building ordinances, requiring newly-constructed buildings and buildings undergoing specified alterations to contain storage space, devices or mechanisms that facilitate source separation and storage of designated recyclable materials to enable the local government unit to efficiently collect, process, market and sell the designated materials. Such recommendations shall include, but shall not be limited to separate chutes to facilitate source separation in multi-family dwellings, storage areas that conform to fire and safety code regulations, and specialized storage containers.

The Solid Waste Management Plan shall indicate the specific measures to be undertaken to meet the recycling goals pursuant to the objectives of this Act.

(g) Composting - The composting component shall include a program and implementation schedule which shows the methods by which the LGU shall, in combination with the source reduction and recycling components, reduce a sufficient amount of solid waste disposed of within its jurisdiction to comply with the diversion requirements of Sec. 20 hereof.

The LGU composting component shall describe the following:

(1) The types of materials which will be composted under the programs;

(2) The methods for determining the categories of solid wastes to be diverted from disposal at a disposal facility through composting; and

(3) New facilities, and expansion of existing facilities needed to implement the composting component.

The LGU composting component shall describe methods for developing the markets for composted materials, including, but not limited to, an evaluation of the feasibility of procurement preferences for the purchase of composted products. Each LGU may determine and grant a price preference to encourage the purchase of composted products.

(h) Solid waste facility capacity and final disposal - The solid waste facility component shall include, but shall not be limited to, a projection of the amount of disposal capacity needed to accommodate the solid waste generated, reduced by the following:

(1) Implementation of source reduction, recycling and composting programs required in this Section or through implementation of other waste diversion activities pursuant to Sec. 20 of this Act;

(2) Any permitted disposal facility which will be available during the 10-year planning period; and

(3) All disposal capacity which has been secured through an agreement with another LGU, or through an agreement with a solid waste enterprise.

The plan shall identify existing and proposed disposal sites and waste management facilities in the city or municipality or in other areas. The plan shall specify the strategies for the efficient disposal of waste through existing disposal facilities and the identification of prospective sites for future use. The selection and development of disposal sites shall be made on the basis of internationally accepted standards and on the guidelines set in Sec. 41 and 42 of this Act.

Strategies shall be included to improve said existing sites to reduce adverse impact on health and the environment, and to extent life span and capacity. The plan shall clearly define projections for future disposal site requirements and the estimated cost for these efforts.

Open dump sites shall not be allowed as final disposal sites. If an open dump site is existing within the city or municipality, the plan shall make provisions for its closure or eventual phase out within the period specified under the framework and pursuant to the provisions under Sec. 37 of this Act. As an alternative, sanitary landfill sites shall be developed and operated as a final disposal site for solid and, eventually, residual wastes of a municipality or city or a cluster of municipality and/or cities. Sanitary landfills shall be designed and operated in accordance with the guidelines set under Secs. 40 and 41 of this Act.

(i) Education and public information - The education and public information component shall describe how the LGU will educate and inform its citizens about the source reduction, recycling and composting programs.

The plan shall make provisions to ensure that information on waste collection services, solid waste management and related health and environmental concerns are widely disseminated among the public. This shall be undertaken through the print and broadcast media and other government agencies in the municipality. The DECS and the Commission on Higher Education shall ensure that waste management shall be incorporated in the curriculum of primary, secondary and college students.

(j) Special Waste - The special waste component shall include existing waste handling and disposal practices for special wastes or household hazardous wastes, and the identification of current and proposed programs to ensure the proper handling, re-use, and long-term disposal of special wastes;

(k) Resource requirement and funding - The funding component includes identification and description of project costs, revenues, and revenue sources the LGU will use to implement all components of the LGU solid waste management plan;

The plan shall likewise indicate specific projects, activities, equipment and technological requirements for which outside sourcing of funds or materials may be necessary to carry out the specific components of the plan. It shall define the specific uses for its resource requirement s and indicate its costs. The plan shall likewise indicate how the province, city or municipality intends to generate the funds for the acquisition of its resource requirements. It shall also indicate if certain resource requirements are being or will be sourced from fees, grants, donations, local funding and other means. This will serve as basis for the determination and assessment of incentives which may be extended to the province, city or municipality as provided for in Sec. 45 of this Act.

(l) Privatization of solid waste management projects - The plan shall likewise indicate specific measures to promote the participation of the private sector in the management of solid wastes, particularly in the generation and development of the essential technologies for solid waste management. Specific projects or component activities of the plan which may be offered as private sector investment activity shall be identified and promoted as such. Appropriate incentives for private sector involvement in solid waste management shall likewise be established and provided for in the plan, in consonance with Sec. 45 hereof and other existing laws, policies and regulations; and

(m) Incentive programs - A program providing for incentives, cash or otherwise, which shall encourage the participation of concerned sectors shall likewise be included in the plan.

Sec. 19. Waste characterization. - The Department in coordination with the LGUs, shall be responsible for the establishment of the guidelines for the accurate characterization of wastes including determination of whether or not wastes will be compatible with containment features and other wastes, and whether or not wastes are required to be managed as hazardous wastes under R. A. 6969, otherwise known as the Toxic Substance and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act.

Sec. 20. Establishing Mandatory Solid Waste Diversion. - Each LGU plan shall include an implementation schedule which shows that within five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act, the LGU shall divert at least 25% of all solid waste from waste disposal facilities through re-use, recycling and composting activities and other resource recovery activities: Provided, That the waste diversion goals shall be increased every three (3) years thereafter; Provided, further, That nothing in this Section prohibits a local government unit from implementing re-use, recycling, and composting activities designed to exceed the goal.
 

For premises containing six (6) or more residential units, the local government unit shall promulgate regulations requiring the owner or person in charge of such premises to:

(a) provide for the residents a designated area and containers in which to accumulate source separated recyclable materials to be collected by the municipality or private center; and

(b) notify the occupants of each buildings of the requirements of this Act and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

(a) There shall be a separate container for each type of waste from all sources: Provided, That in the case of bulky waste, it will suffice that the same be collected and placed in a separate designated area; and

(b) The solid waste container depending on its use shall be properly marked or identified for on-site collection as “compostable”, “non-recyclable”, “recyclable” or “special waste”, or any other classification as may be determined by the Commission.

(a) All collectors and other personnel directly dealing with collection of solid waste shall be equipped with personal protective equipment to protect them from the hazards of handling wastes;

(b) Necessary training shall be given to the collectors and personnel to ensure that the solid wastes are handled properly and in accordance with the guidelines pursuant to this Act; and

(c) Collection of solid waste shall be done in a manner which prevents damage to the container and spillage or scattering of solid waste within the collection vicinity.

Vehicles shall be designed to consider road size, condition and capacity to ensure the sage and efficient collection and transport of solid wastes.

The waste compartment shall have a cover to ensure the containment of solid wastes while in transit.

For the purpose of identification, vehicles shall bear the body number, the name, and the telephone number of the contractor/agency collecting solid waste.

Sec. 25. Guidelines for Transfer Stations. - Transfer stations shall be designed and operated for efficient waste handling capacity and in compliance with environmental standards and guidelines set pursuant to this Act and other regulations: Provided, That no waste shall be stored in such station beyond twenty-four (24) hours.

The siting of the transfer station shall consider the land use plan, proximity to collection area, and accessibility of haul routes to disposal facility. The design shall give primary consideration to size and space sufficiency in order to accommodate the waste for storage and vehicles for loading and unloading of wastes.

Sec. 27. Requirement for Eco-Labeling. - The DTI shall formulate and implement a coding system for packaging materials and products to facilitate waste and recycling and re-use.

Sec. 28. Reclamation Programs and Buy-back Centers for Recyclables and Toxics. - The National Ecology Center shall assist LGUs in establishing and implementing deposit or reclamation programs in coordination with manufacturers, recyclers and generators to provide separate collection systems or convenient drop-off locations for recyclable materials and particularly for separated toxic components of the waste stream like dry cell batteries and tires to ensure that they are not incinerated or disposed of in a landfill. Upon effectivity of this Act, toxic materials present in the waste stream should be separated at source, collected separately and further screened and sent to appropriate hazardous waste treatment and disposal plants, consistent with the provisions of R. A. No. 6969.

Sec. 29. Non-Environmentally Acceptable Products. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the Commission shall, after public notice and hearing, prepare a list of non-environmentally acceptable products as defined in this Act that shall be prohibited according to a schedule that shall be prepared by the Commission: Provided, however, That non-environmentally acceptable products shall not be prohibited unless the Commission first finds that there are alternatives available which are available to consumers at no more than ten percent (10%) greater cost than the disposable product.

Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary, this section shall not apply to:

(a) Packaging used at hospitals, nursing homes or other m