BAN Toxics Urges Philippine Government to Prioritize RA 9003 Over Waste-to-Energy Plans
As International Zero Waste Month concludes, environmental NGO BAN Toxics has issued a strong appeal to the Philippine government, urging it to abandon plans for waste-to-energy (WTE) technology as a solution to the country's escalating waste crisis. This call comes in response to Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's announcement during the 25th anniversary of RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, that she intends to file a bill amending the law to permit WTE for waste disposal. RA 9003 was the first law she signed as president, making this proposal particularly significant.
Gaps in RA 9003 Implementation Highlighted
BAN Toxics argues that the government should first concentrate on effectively implementing RA 9003 and addressing persistent shortcomings. The group notes that improper waste disposal, insufficient infrastructure, and a lack of public awareness remain widespread issues, with the law yet to be fully realized even after 25 years. According to a 2023 Commission on Audit (COA) report, only 39 percent of barangays (16,418 out of 42,046) were served by operational Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in 2021. Additionally, many local government units (LGUs) lack adequate sanitary landfills, with just 29.25 percent (478 of 1,634 LGUs) having access to such facilities, leading to much of the country's waste being improperly managed or sent to dumpsites.
Under RA 9003, LGUs are mandated to divert at least 25 percent of their solid waste through reuse, recycling, composting, and other resource recovery activities, with targets increasing every three years. However, official assessments reveal that many LGUs have struggled to meet these diversion requirements in practice, resulting in significant amounts of waste remaining unmanaged or improperly disposed. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has acknowledged that a lack of recycling infrastructure and waste processing facilities, along with inconsistent waste segregation at the source, are key barriers to effective implementation.
Toxic Risks of Waste-to-Energy Technology
Jam Lorenzo, BAN Toxics Deputy Executive Director and Head of Policy Development and Research, emphasized the need for a comprehensive assessment of RA 9003 before considering WTE. "We should first conduct a comprehensive assessment of RA 9003, and invest our efforts and resources in improving its implementation before considering waste-to-energy or other burn technologies," Lorenzo stated. He argued that WTE is not clean energy, as it produces a wide range of toxic chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that persist in the environment for extended periods.
Citing a biomonitoring study by Zero Waste Europe from 2023–2024, Lorenzo noted that even the most advanced waste incineration technologies emit unintentionally produced POPs, such as dioxins and furans. He also highlighted that WTE facilities prefer dry, inorganic waste like plastics due to its high energy content. "WTE is often framed as a solution to plastic pollution, but burning plastics creates new environmental and health risks by releasing toxic pollutants. Instead of reducing plastic waste, it only encourages continued virgin plastic production derived from fossil fuels, reinforcing dependence on extractive industries that drive pollution and climate change," Lorenzo explained.
Advocating for a Zero Waste Framework
The DENR estimates that the Philippines produces approximately 61,000 metric tons of solid waste daily, with 12 to 24 percent being plastic. This translates to around 163 million plastic sachet packets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45 million thin-film bags used each day. In response, BAN Toxics is advocating for a Zero Waste framework to address the waste crisis, calling for decisive action to reduce or eliminate waste at the source. This approach involves:
- Cutting reliance on plastics, especially single-use plastics.
- Ensuring accountability from producers and corporations for the full lifecycle of their products.
- Promoting reusable and refillable packaging.
- Supporting community-based recycling and composting.
- Encouraging behavioral change among consumers to adopt more sustainable habits.
Lorenzo concluded, "Waste-to-energy may promise an easy solution, but it is a false one. Easy fixes rarely solve systemic problems. Lasting change comes from investing in systems and infrastructure needed to properly implement our waste management laws and reduce waste at the source." BAN Toxics stresses the need for a fundamental shift from fragmented, "end-of-pipe" waste disposal to integrated, sustainable, and holistic approaches, advocating for a systems approach that coordinates technologies, policies, and community actions for more sustainable outcomes.
