The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7 has taken swift action against the operator of the Binaliw Sanitary Landfill following a significant environmental incident. A "trash slide" or garbage avalanche occurred on January 8, 2026, prompting the immediate issuance of a cease-and-desist order (CDO).
Immediate Halt to Landfill Operations
The urgent order was directed at Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. (PIWSI), the landfill's operator. The DENR 7 mandates the company to stop all operations at the facility, including the critical activity of accepting new waste deliveries. The only activities permitted to continue at the site are those related to rescue and cleanup efforts from the recent trash slide.
Technical Findings Recommend Permanent Closure
This decisive move came after a thorough inspection conducted on January 9, 2026, by technical personnel from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). Their assessment revealed alarming damage to the surrounding environment. Based on their findings, the EMB recommended the closure of the landfill, citing evidence of "serious or irreparable damage to the environment."
Compliance Timeline and Legal Mandates
Laudemir Salac, the OIC Regional Executive Director of DENR 7, confirmed the agency's actions. He stated that DENR is already coordinating with concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) to ensure adherence to the national ecological waste management law, Republic Act 9003. As part of the compliance process, PIWSI is required to attend a technical conference and, more importantly, implement a comprehensive "compliance plan" within a strict 90-day period.
The impact of the trash slide was severe, with the cascading waste burying several administrative buildings and even the residences of landfill staff on-site. This incident highlights critical concerns about waste management safety and environmental safeguards in the region.
