The garbage disposal system in Cebu City has been severely disrupted after Typhoon Tinio damaged a critical bridge in Barangay Bacayan, forcing garbage trucks to reduce their daily trips and creating a potential waste management crisis.
Bridge Damage Cripples Waste Transport
During the City Council session on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the committee on environment, revealed the alarming situation. Garbage trucks that previously made two to three trips daily to the Binaliw landfill can now complete only one trip due to weight limitations imposed on the damaged Bacayan Bridge.
The bridge suffered structural damage from heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides brought by Typhoon Tinio on November 4. According to the Department of Engineering and Public Works, structural assessment may take approximately one week, while repairs could extend beyond a month depending on findings and weather conditions.
Immediate Measures and Long-term Concerns
Councilor Garganera emphasized that the City cannot afford to wait for the bridge to be fully repaired before taking action. "With limited truck turnaround, we risk waste piling up in barangays if we do not adjust immediately," he warned during the session.
To ease pressure on the Binaliw landfill, Garganera urged commercial establishments to temporarily hire private waste haulers or dispose of their garbage in other accredited facilities until access routes stabilize. He also stressed the importance of stricter waste segregation, noting that many establishments still send recyclable materials directly to landfills.
For households, Garganera encouraged residents to reduce waste and turn over recyclables to junk shops. He provided a compelling statistic: a single plastic bottle per household across Cebu City's estimated 250,000 families could prevent approximately eight tons of plastic from entering the landfill.
Systemic Issues and Future Solutions
The bridge situation has exposed deeper vulnerabilities in Cebu City's waste management system. Garganera questioned why PrimeWaste, the operator of the Binaliw landfill, has not yet installed a promised real-time monitoring system at City Hall despite assurances given to the Solid Waste Management Board earlier this year.
Additional concerns were raised about quarry operations in Barangay Binaliw, with Garganera noting that the City Council's requested cease and desist order from September 9 remains unissued. He warned that quarry trucks could further congest the already damaged mountain roads, affecting both garbage transport and ongoing clearing operations.
With NewSky backing out of a proposed waste-to-energy project earlier this year, Garganera emphasized the need to revisit the Solid Waste Management Plan and explore modern waste technologies. "If we continue to rely on one landfill and one access road, we remain exposed," he stated. "Now is the opportunity to rethink how we Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Redirect our waste."
Garganera moved for several resolutions encouraging commercial establishments, private waste haulers, nearby local government units, and residents to temporarily reduce, divert, and reroute waste while bridge repairs continue.
