PORAC, Pampanga – SOME 5,000 indignant residents of Barangay Planas have urged government authorities for the immediate closure of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Barangay Planas due to the unsanitary conditions brought about by garbage trucks passing through the barangay.
Barangay Planas Kagawad Rex Ocampo said some 80 garbage trucks pass along the village each day, specifically along Purok 1, to the consternation of residents who cook and eat their food as foul odor is emitted by the garbage trucks.
Ocampo said there are around 5,000 residents in Barangay Planas who are now directly affected by the garbage piling up in the MRF operated by Prime Waste Solutions (PWS).
On his Facebook account, Ocampo said the PWS General Manager told him the MRF operates only until 10 p.m., but garbage trucks still come in 24/7. “Imagine hitting more than 80 trucks na lalabas keng barrio tamu keng 24 hours magdalang wastes,” he wrote. (Imagine more than 80 trucks passing through our barrio within 24 hours carrying waste.)
Ocampo said they are now coordinating with the Porac LGU and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to resolve the problem, which, according to residents, poses a great danger to their health.
On Tuesday morning, some garbage trucks passing through Purok 1 of Barangay Planas were observed not being properly covered, with their cargo being strewn onto the barangay road.
Said one Merly Pineda, a resident of Barangay Planas: “Dapat maipasara na iyan. Hindi na kami makahinga sa baho.” (That should be shut down. We can no longer breathe because of the stench.) Others said their children are also affected by the passing garbage trucks.
Unlike sanitary landfills, the MRF facility only collects residual wastes, which are baled and wrapped in plastics and stored in an area within the facility.
Experts, however, said long-term storage of baled and wrapped residual wastes is not sanitary due to the possibility of leachate occurring. Furthermore, leachate can contaminate groundwater and pose a risk to human health and the environment.
This is aside from soil pollution, air pollution, foul odor, pest and rodent infestations, landscape alteration, methane emissions, leachate management challenges, and the negative impact on local ecosystems.
A similar complaint had been aired against Prime Waste regarding its operations at the Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City — foul odor and untreated wastewater.
Reports have it that Mayor-elect Nestor Archival Sr. plans to evaluate the facility’s compliance with environmental regulations immediately after taking office on June 30. Archival said the operator should address the longstanding issues concerning the environment and health of residents or face closure.