Images of garbage piling up and floating in parts of Parañaque City following days of heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon have renewed concerns over the country’s persistent waste management problems, environmental group BAN Toxics said.
The group criticized recent pronouncements from Malacañang emphasizing the supposed lack of discipline and irresponsibility of ordinary Filipinos, saying such statements risk placing the burden of a systemic problem on the public while overlooking government responsibilities under the country’s solid waste management laws.
“We recognize that proper waste management requires the participation of every citizen. However, individual accountability cannot be used as an excuse for the government’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities. The government has the mandate, resources, and legal obligations to establish systems that make proper waste management possible and accessible,” said Thony Dizon, advocacy and campaign officer of BAN Toxics.
“We also urge the government and local government units (LGUs) to strengthen public education on proper waste management. Yes, waste management is a shared responsibility, but it can only be achieved through proper education and access to adequate waste facilities,” Dizon said.
BAN Toxics called for a review of the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, or Republic Act No. 9003, and stronger enforcement of its provisions.
RA 9003 requires LGUs to plan, implement, and finance localized solid waste management programs covering waste reduction, recovery, recycling, and diversion. The law also requires the establishment of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in every barangay or cluster of barangays.
According to the Compendium of Philippine Environment Statistics, the country had 20,458 MRFs in 2025, compared with 42,011 barangays as of December 31, 2025. Because the law allows MRFs to serve a cluster of barangays, however, the figures do not necessarily represent a one-to-one requirement.
BAN Toxics said LGUs should also be held accountable for implementing RA 9003 and complying with their 10-year Solid Waste Management Plans, including waste-diversion measures.
Under RA 9003, LGUs were required to achieve at least 25% diversion of solid waste from disposal facilities within five years of the law’s effectivity through reuse, recycling, composting, and other resource-recovery activities. The law provides for higher diversion targets every three years thereafter.
The group said waste recovery and diversion efforts continue to rely heavily on informal channels, including junk shops, waste collectors, and waste pickers.
“Informal waste workers segregate waste, recover recyclable materials, and earn a living from discarded materials. We must recognize their vital role in waste recovery and recycling,” Dizon said.
BAN Toxics called for the formalization and integration of informal waste workers into local solid waste management systems, including access to social and health benefits, training, support, proper facilities and equipment, and safe and decent working conditions.
“RA 9003 is crucial but poorly implemented, and its shortcomings are evident, particularly during floods. With plastics comprising a significant share of the country’s generated waste, improper waste management can lead to toxic contamination, posing hidden and long-term risks to communities and the environment,” Dizon said.
The group cited the estimates of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) placing the country’s waste generation at 60.76 thousand tons per day in 2025. DENR data from 2024 also showed that the Philippines generated approximately 61,000 metric tons of solid waste daily, with plastic waste accounting for as much as 24%, primarily from consumer goods packaging, cutlery, and shopping bags.
BAN Toxics also urged the national government and LGUs to reduce the use of plastic, particularly single-use plastics, and support accessible, affordable, and environmentally sound alternatives.
According to the National Solid Waste Management Commission, about 30% of LGUs had some form of policy regulating single-use plastics as of 2019. BAN Toxics said the absence of localized policies in many LGUs leaves efforts to address plastic pollution fragmented.
“These gaps in waste management and the recurring impacts of flooding also point to the need for greater accountability in the allocation of public resources and implementation of flood-control projects,” Dizon added.
“Any allegations of corruption, irregularities, or misuse of funds in flood-control projects must be investigated transparently, and those responsible must be held accountable. Public funds intended for flood protection must reach the communities they are meant to protect,” Dizon said.
BAN Toxics also raised concerns over the growing promotion of waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies as a solution to the country’s waste problem, a policy direction the group said was further reinforced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address.
“Framed as a renewable energy source, waste-to-energy is a false solution to address the root causes of waste generation. Burning waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and can release hazardous pollutants,” Dizon explained.
Instead, BAN Toxics called for the institutionalization of zero-waste approaches focused on reducing waste generation and eliminating plastics at the source.
Follow PHILIPPINES TODAY on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe on YouTube for the latest updates.