Cebu City could soon end its costly practice of hauling garbage to distant disposal sites and storing waste at the South Road Properties (SRP) as authorities move closer to reopening the Binaliw landfill.
The development raises the possibility of finally clearing the foul-smelling garbage stockpile that has drawn public complaints from motorists, residents, and business establishments in the SRP area.
Mayor Nestor Archival on Wednesday, June 17, said initial assessments indicate that the landfill operator in Binaliw has substantially complied with requirements set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), opening the door for a possible resumption of operations.
“Preliminarily niingon sila the documentations are there,” Archival told reporters.
He added that remaining verification work focuses on the landfill’s business permit and compliance status.
“The requirements that are being set forth by the DENR are there. In place na siya,” he said.
The potential reopening comes after Cebu City was forced to suspend disposal operations in Binaliw following a fatal trash slide earlier this year, leading to a buildup of waste at SRP while the city searched for alternative dumping sites.
Archival warned that continued delays could cost the city nearly half a billion pesos in waste management expenses.
He said the city currently generates around 700 tons of garbage daily, with disposal costs reaching about P6,000 per ton when hauled to distant facilities, including transport, tipping fees, and equipment costs.
By contrast, disposal at Binaliw is estimated at around P3,000 per ton.
The mayor earlier said the city aimed to clear accumulated waste at SRP within 15 to 30 days once DENR clearance allowed operations to resume.
However, concerns raised by residents and stakeholders prompted the creation of a technical working group, delaying the transfer of waste.
The SRP site, which temporarily served as a holding area, has since become the subject of growing public complaints due to odor and environmental concerns.
Archival reiterated that the SRP stockpile is only a temporary measure pending a long-term solution.
“The idea here is we will bring the garbage to Binaliw,” he said.
Even as the city prepares for possible reopening, Archival said Cebu City is expanding waste diversion efforts to reduce the volume of garbage sent to disposal sites.
He said about 15 tons of waste are currently diverted daily through eco-station programs, with plans to increase that figure in the coming months.
The city is also coordinating with private firms to process recyclable materials such as PET bottles and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for industrial use.
“We were able to succeed that because right now we’re diverting at least 15 tons a day,” Archival said.
At the same time, the city is studying contingency measures, including transfer or staging stations designed to reduce direct dumping and minimize odor and environmental impact.
Archival stressed that Cebu City cannot rely on a single disposal site and must continue developing backup systems while reducing waste generation.
“We don’t have a fallback position,” he said.
The Cebu City Council continues to review the city’s waste management strategy, with earlier directives requiring the submission of a transition plan to phase out SRP as a temporary dumping site.
Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has also pushed for longer-term solutions, including a large-scale materials recovery facility to reduce reliance on landfills.
Photo by Jacq Hernandez, PBB Photojournalist
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