Cebu City has been forced to implement an emergency waste disposal plan, rerouting hundreds of tons of daily garbage to a neighboring town. This critical shift became necessary after a partial collapse at the city's primary landfill, threatening to paralyze sanitation services for the entire metro.
Emergency Waste Diversion to Consolacion
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, Cebu City officially began sending its collected garbage to the Asian Energy Systems Corp. facility in Consolacion. This move serves as a crucial stopgap solution after a landslide compromised the Prime Waste Solutions Cebu Landfill in Barangay Binaliw. Franklyn Ong, president of the Liga ng Barangay, confirmed that the Department of Public Services (DPS) started operations at the new site that afternoon.
The temporary dumpsite is now acting as the main relief point for multiple barangays. City officials emphasize this is a temporary measure, to be used until further notice, while long-term solutions are developed.
Logistical Challenges and Public Health Risks
The scale of the problem is immense. Cebu City generates between 500 and 600 tons of waste every day, a volume that can surge during major events like the Sinulog Festival. The sudden need to haul garbage to Consolacion has exposed and intensified existing logistical problems.
The city has been grappling with a shortage of garbage trucks and the increased fuel and operational costs of longer hauling routes since late 2025. Without the Consolacion site, refuse would quickly pile up in streets, creating a severe public health hazard. While Mayor Nestor Archival states the situation is not yet a full-blown health crisis, the dependence on a facility outside city limits highlights a fragile disposal system with little redundancy.
Leadership Calls for Public Cooperation
City leaders have expressed a mix of relief at finding a temporary solution and caution about the challenges ahead. Ong highlighted the coordinated effort, stating the Liga ng Barangay worked closely with the DPS and the Mayor's office to find "practical and timely solutions" to keep services running.
Mayor Archival pointed to the need for long-term waste reduction, specifically targeting the 300 tons of biodegradable waste produced daily. Councilor Joel Garganera made a direct appeal to residents, asking them to temporarily avoid putting trash out on the curb and to practice strict waste segregation to ease the strain on the limited hauling capacity.
The Road Ahead for Cebu's Waste
All eyes are now on the temporary Consolacion site as a test of the city's crisis management. The situation's urgency will be a key topic at the Development Council meeting on January 21, where funding for a broader Solid Waste Management Program will be discussed. The success of this emergency pivot is crucial as the city prepares for mandatory waste segregation policies set to take effect in February.
The landslide at Binaliw has done more than block a disposal site; it has exposed the critical vulnerabilities in urban waste management, forcing Cebu City to rely on the cooperation of its neighbors to maintain basic public sanitation.
