Quezon City improving its waste management

Quezon City (Philippines), the largest city in the whole of Metro Manila and home to 2 million people, is improving the efficiency and safety of its waste management services.

One major focus is the rehabilitation of the Payatas Dumpsite. The dumpsite used to be an open dump with squatters, but recently a tragedy occurred where approximately one hundred squatters were killed as a result of a garbage landslide. Through a partnership with relevant non governmental organizations, the Payatas Dumpsite is being converted into a methane-to-energy facility to not only capture the methane, but also provide for the safety of the waste-pickers.

Dependence on landfills can be reduced through waste prevention and recycling measures, resulting in the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions. Waste management approaches also reduce transportation-related emissions and overall energy savings by reusing items that would otherwise have to be manufactured. For more information on the importance of waste management, please visit www.iclei.org/ccp.

Quezon City is one of 24 local governments in Southeast Asia that are currently Members of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. For more information on ICLEI and its activities in Southeast Asia, please visit www.iclei.org/sea.

Source: ‘Environmental & Waste Management in Quezon City’ – brochure.