Kiangan shows solution to trash waste

ENVIRONMENT UPDATES

Daniel B. Codamon

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- This municipality proved anew that it is the leading implementer of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) law in the province with the safe closure and rehabilitation of its disposal facility.

The rehabilitated waste disposal facility is located at the municipal government-owned property at the Barangay Pindongan covering an area of 489 square meters.

It was used by the town as an open dumpsite from 2000 until 2014.

The type of waste dumped in the disposal facility included 48.29 percent biodegradables, 48.84% non-biodegradables and 2.87% of hazardous or bio-hazardous waste.

The daily volume of disposed waste of .367 tons brought out issues and concerns from the populace about pollution of nearby water bodies, contamination of nearby potable water sources, adverse effect on nearby agricultural lands and the hazardous waste being dumped.

The open dumpsite already accumulated so much volume of garbage so the municipal government decided to close it on August 15, 2014 to pave the way for its rehabilitation into a mini-Sanitary Land Fill (SLF).

The rehabilitation of the waste disposal facility is now completed and what a transformation!

The SLF has a retaining wall below the dumpsite so as not to affect the agricultural lands within its vicinity. It also has a drainage canal excavated to prevent run-off water. The rehabilitation works included the compaction and stabilization of elevated soil, sand, exposed waste and rice hauls are now being used as cover material hence there is no more odor noted in the area. A gas vent was also installed for gas management of the facility.

The creeks beside the dumpsite were cleaned of weeds and planted with flower shrubs.  Waste pickers and squatters are strictly prohibited at the disposal facility.

The municipal government has also adapted an overall strategy of solid waste management which is one of efficiency regarding biodegradable, residual, recyclable and special wastes.

The town is strictly implementing waste segregation by households, Unsegregated wastes are not collected, and there is no collection for biodegradable wastes as these should be composed at home.

Municipal ESWM program coordinator Ernesto Baglan said   the municipal government has submitted the report of the safe closure and rehabilitation of said facility to Department of Environment and Natural Resources   in compliance to RA 9003 which is being closely monitored by the DENR as part of a strategy to counter the impact of climate change.