RA 9003 or ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT

Republic Act 9003 or The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act was signed into law on January 2001. It, among others, provides for a comprehensive ecological solid waste management program. It seeks to address the horrendous problem on waste. Such programs will directly relate to public health, protection of environment, resource management, utilization and conservation, waste reduction and public awareness and public involvement.

Types of Wastes identified by RA 9003

1. Solid Wastes- all discarded household, commercial wastes, non- hazardous institutional and industrial wastes, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural wastes, and other non- hazardous/ non-toxic solid wastes.
2. Special Wastes- these are household hazardous wastes such as paints, thinners, household batteries, lead- acid batteries, spray canisters, and the like. These include wastes from residential and commercial sources that comprise of bulky wastes, consumer electronics, white goods, yard wastes that are collected separately, oil and tires. These wastes are usually handled separately from other residential and commercial wastes.
3. Hazardous Wastes- these are solid, liquid, contained gaseous or semisolid wastes which may cause or contribute to the increase in mortality, or in serious or incapacitating reversible illness, or acute/ chronic effect on the health of people and other organisms.
4. Infectious Wastes- mostly generated by hospitals.
5. Wastes resulting from mining activities including contaminated soil and debris.
6. Agricultural Waste- wastes generated from planting or harvesting of crops, trimming or pruning of plants and wastes or run- off materials from farms or fields

The classification of the waste as abovementioned can be used in waste management such as segregation and recycling. Segregation, as the law states, refer to a solid waste management practice of separating different materials found in solid waste in order to promote recycling and re- use of resources and to reduce the volume of waste for collection and disposal. Recycling refer to the treating of used or waste materials through a process of making them suitable for beneficial use and for other purposes; and includes any process by which solid materials are transformed into new products in such a manner that the original product may lose their identity, and which maybe used as raw materials for the production of other goods or services. With this classification, the law is perceived to be comprehensive enough in taking action on wastes. The law, however, does not provide for exact treatment and absolute management of hazardous, infectious and wastes resulting from mining activities. It merely outlines the policy, institutional mechanism, directives and punishable acts but does not lay down specific ways of treating the wastes. Implementation of the law is laid down to the LGU’s and other governmental bodies.



IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS

In response to the law, the governing body has long started their dissemination drive to educate the public. Signboards and signage have been put up in public places and every individual must attentively read it before getting caught. The said material contains the ways on how to properly segregate the solid wastes and lays down acts punishable under RA 9003.

Kinds of Solid Wastes present at home and at workplace

1. Paper- clean and dry papers like folder, bond papers, newspaper, magazines, etc.
2. Plastic- Softdrink PET bottles, bottles of mineral water, vinegar, soy sauce, cooking oil, shampoo, etc.
3. Steel- aluminum containers like softdrink in cans, ice cream and biscuit cans, etc.
- G.I. sheet , aluminum gutter, brass copper, washer stainless steel, scrap metal, etc.
4. Bottles/ Glasses- bottles of beer, gin, softdrink, juice, vinegar, peanut butter, etc.

These wastes can be recycled and can be sold to junkshops.

What to do:

1. Separate white paper from colored paper.
2. Fold carton to save space.
3. Wash or soak the plastic, cans, bottles and glasses to be disposed in water recycled from washing laundry to prevent infection from insects.
4. Let the plastic dry before placing them in a recyclable container.
5. Fold or cut steel to save space.
6. Place the bottles or broken glasses in a sturdy container.
7. One glass color per container.
8. Don’t let garbage collectors gather garbage when it rains.

Garden waste, like the dried leaves and grass, plant stem, branches, and cut- offs, extracted plants, animal waste and kitchen waste are compostable. These wastes can be disposed by burying them. For leftovers, drain it before putting in a recycled ice cream or biscuit containers.

PROHIBITED ACTS

1. Littering, throwing, and indiscriminate dumping of waste in public places such as in roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or parks.
2. Open burning of solid wastes.
3. Causing and permitting the collection of non- segregated or unsorted wastes.
4. Open dumping, burying of wastes in flood- prone areas.
5. Unauthorized removal of recyclables intended for collection by authorized persons.
6. Mixing of source- separated recyclable materials with other solid wastes.

The penalty ranges from Php300 to Php1,000 or one to fifteen- day community service or both to Php5,000 + 5% to 10% of net income depending on the gravity of act committed.

CITIZEN’S SUIT

To effectively enforce the Provisions of this Act, a citizen may file an appropriate Civil, Criminal, or Administrative action against any citizen, or any public officer, who violates or fails to comply with the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9003.
A letter of complaint, including the name of the complainant, the time, date and place of the offense, the violation committed, and proof/ pictures, may be sent to any of the following:
1. EMB- NCR, 29 Hizon Bldg., Quezon Ave., Quezon City, Telephone: 781-0497 or 71
2. National Solid Waste Management Commission Secretariat, EMB-DENR, 2nd Floor, HRDS Bldg., DENR Compound Visayas Ave., Quezon City. Telephone: 920-2252/ 920-2279
3. Integrated Bar of the Philippines, National Environmental Action Team, 15 Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Telephone: 631-3018/1158 Fax: 631-3013