COA: Trash non-segregation costs Baguio City over P34M

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Hauling expenses could have been spent instead on social services if businesses complied with the law, auditors say

MANILA, Philippines – Not segregating trash can be costly.

In the case of Baguio City, garbage hauling expenses in 2013 amounted to P68.9 million because businesses did not segregate solid waste, as required by Republic Act 9003, or the  Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

In an audit report released Tuesday, May 20, the Commission on Audit said, “The Chief of the Solid Waste Management Division stated that the minimal compliance was due to the refusal of waste generators to conform to the waste segregation which is evident at the Central Business Districts and the Market Area where the compliance is at 0 percent.”

Auditors said about half of the hauling expenses could have been spent instead on social services if businesses had complied with the law.

While the city government built 3 materials recovery facilities (MRFs) where recyclables can be separated from residual, only one is operational.

Early this month, city officials said Baguio City generates around 120 tons of garbage daily.

As early as 2007, the city government passed City Ordinance No. 26 to discourage the use of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable packaging materials.

Penalties recommended for violators were quite severe: P1,000 for the first offense, P2,500 for the second, and P5,000 and suspension of business permits for 3 months for the third offense. A “habitual offender” was supposed to be closed down, its business license also cancelled.

City officials however admitted there was no strict implementation of the ordinance and business establishments continued using styro-packs and plastic bags.

The COA said private junk shops collected an estimated 78% of recyclables, making a profit from trash. – Rappler.com

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