IT HAS BEEN two and a half decades since the worst garbage crisis hit the National Capital Region with the closure of the San Mateo Sanitary landfill in Rizal Province.Twenty five years later, Metro Manila is facing the same dilemma as to where to address the problem embarking on over 10,000 tons of waste generated daily.
The inability of the government to effectively implement a sustainable solidwaste management has time and again causing severe floodings and health hazards.
The situation, particularly in Manila, has been worsened by contract disputes, uncollected waste, and reliance on distant landfills. The crisis is fueled by high single-use plastic consumption and inefficient,, outdated waste management.
In July 2025, Manila declared a crisis after private contractors halted services due to unpaid, debts, leading to, piles of trash throughout the city. The same problem beset other cities in the region.
Clogged waterways, with 600+ tons of trash, gathered during monsoon, seasons, directly aggravate, flooding in Metro Manila which has been generating over 10,000 tons of waste daily.
Worse, the volume of garbage may soon double by 2030, unless the government seriously consider the idea of strictly implementating Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Sildwaste Management Act).
For one, RA 9003, which mandates waste segregation and management.
However the government would require political will in compelling Metro Manila residents to do their part — segregate waste.
By doing so, we get to reduce waste at source.
Community-based Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) goes beyond compliance. These MRFs translate to livelihood too.
Other simple solutions include clean-up drives, and de-clogging operations.
For a long-term solution, we should
invest in, modern, waste-to-energy technologies, and promoting, circular, economy practices to manage, the, high volume of, plastic waste.
The time isn’t on our side. We should act now. Not tomorrow or any time in the future.
