Cebu City set to start mandatory waste segregation

Local

CEBU CITY is moving toward the gradual enforcement of mandatory waste segregation beginning in 2026.

City officials push for stronger compliance while prioritizing public education to ensure residents are prepared for the shift.

The Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board (CCSWMB) has formally recommended to Mayor Nestor Archival the phased enforcement of waste segregation next year, citing the need to address the city’s growing garbage problem and improve overall waste management.

Archival welcomed the recommendation but made it clear that no enforcement will take effect until a comprehensive public information campaign is rolled out across the city.

“Ang ato lang, kinahanglan ma-inform ang public,” Archival said.

During the CCSWMB meeting, the board reported that around 20 private dump trucks contracted by the city are currently collecting waste along major thoroughfares.

Archival said that once waste segregation is introduced, collection practices may change. He cited a possible setup where non-biodegradable waste would not be collected on specific days, such as Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, forcing households and establishments to comply with proper segregation schedules.

Inspectors will also be deployed to monitor compliance once the policy is rolled out.

The mayor emphasized, however, that any changes will be clearly announced ahead of time to avoid confusion and public backlash.

Archival also directed the CCSWMB to prepare a resolution backing the recommendation. If adopted, Barangay Enforcement Officers (BEOs) will be tasked to monitor hotspot areas where improper waste disposal is prevalent.

The mayor further instructed the board to craft clear and simple guidelines that residents must follow in separating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.

The goal, Archival said, is to ensure uniform implementation across all barangays.

To prepare residents ahead of enforcement, the city government will launch an extensive information campaign that includes the distribution of flyers, radio interviews, school visits, and a general assembly of teachers who are expected to help cascade proper waste segregation practices to students and households.

The planned gradual enforcement comes as the City Council moves to strengthen Cebu City’s waste management framework.

Councilor Dave Tumulak filed a proposed ordinance amending City Ordinance No. 2031, the city’s segregation-at-source law passed in 2004, to align it with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022.

The proposed amendments introduce stricter penalties for violators, with fines ranging from ₱1,000 for a first offense to ₱5,000 and/or six months’ imprisonment for repeat offenders. Community service may also be imposed as an alternative penalty.

Business establishments found violating segregation rules may see their responsible officers held personally liable.

Under the proposed ordinance, a “No Segregation, No Collection” policy will be enforced, requiring households and businesses to separate biodegradable, non-biodegradable, recyclable, hazardous, and bulky waste.

Barangays and deputized personnel will play a key role in enforcement, with a share of collected compromise fees going to barangays and apprehending officers as incentives.

“Barangay officials and community volunteers are at the frontline of waste management. Providing them incentives strengthens enforcement and builds accountability at the grassroots level,” Tumulak said.

The measure also calls for closer collaboration with the private sector and the informal waste sector, requiring producers and businesses to adopt recycling and recovery programs in line with EPR targets set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.(TGP)