Garbage crisis looms over Bulacan landfill

Bulacan and nearby Metro Manila cities may soon suffer from a garbage crisis after a private landfill operator was reportedly denied access to the Norzagaray dump allegedly due to landgrabbing issues.

Garbage trucks of Waste Custodian Management (WACUMAN) were prohibited starting mid-September from traversing a barangay road leading to the 18-hectare landfill in Barangay San Mateo by a private security team.

“We are very alarmed by this situation. Our papers, land titles, permit, etc. are all legal and complete. We have been operating our business smoothly and efficiently,” WACUMAN president Arthur Legaspi said. “All of a sudden, we were deemed illegal owners of the land where we have operated our landfill business for years.”

The landfill was established in 2007 and the landowner and operator was granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate with Category 4 by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

In 2008, then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1655 which declared the sanitary landfill located in Sitio Tiyakad, Norzaragay as an alternative waste disposal facility for the municipalities and cities of Bulacan, Metro Manila and nearby areas.

Legaspi said WACUMAN’s management was surprised by the blockade as there are reports that a portion of the firm’s land – almost three hectares – is now being claimed by a government agency.

WACUMAN has filed the necessary complaints with the proper authorities, including the provincial government of Bulacan, but sounded the alarm that a garbage crisis may soon affect residents of the province and adjacent cities.