Waste segregation strict in Ifugao town; fines set

By Daniel Codamon

KIANGAN, Ifugao --   Waste segregation is now being strictly implemented in this town to made this town “clean and green,”

The Municipal Ecological Solid Waste Management Office is now overseeing waste segregation by households following conduct of  trainings  and information drives in this town known as site where Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army surrendered to American and Filipino soldiers ending World War 2.

The policy involves segregation of the households of residual, recyclable, biodegradable and special wastes. Unsegregated wastes will not be collected.

Collection schedules have been set and dropping centers where the garbage are collected have been identified in the four barangays  . Garbage should be brought out only to dropping centers on set schedules to avoid penalties.

Five dropping centers were set in Barangay Poblacion three each at barangays Ambabag,  Pindongan and  Tuplac.

Collection time was set at 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays for residual waste and Thursdays for recyclable  and special wastes.

There is no collection for biodegradable wastes  as these should be composed at home.

The MESWMO informed the households that they should bring out their garbage to their respective dropping centers at 7 to 8 a.m. for collection. Residual waste include styro-foams, cigarette butts, worn out plastic sacks, dirt from sweepings, worn out rags, sanitary napkins, disposal diapers, barber or parlor shop waste, plastic straws, household medicine bottles, broken ceramic, colored broken glass and coco fiber from cushions.

Recyclable waste include dry sando bags/junk food/candy wrappers, dry papers, plastic materials, tin and aluminum cans, iron steel, glass bottles, plastic bottle cap toner cartridges, PVC pipes, car batteries, broken TV set and home appliances and broken furniture.

Special waste include paint/thinner containers, spray canisters, household batteries, pharmaceutical waste like medicine foils, expired medicines, expired cosmetics, broken tiles/lamps, book cases, beds and cushions, rubber tires and oil filters.

The municipal government collects a P50 a month garbage fee from every household to shoulder cost of garbage collection and hauling of waste materials to dumpsite.

This is also in support to the long time project of the municipal government called “Kiangan An Malini Ya Maphod” or KAYAM 24/7 which means “Kiangan Always Clean and Good 24 Hours”.