BACOLOD City — Cell No. 5 of the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa is now 75 percent complete and is expected to become operational by the second week of June, according to project officials.
International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists Inc. Operations Manager Mario Sandil disclosed the update during an interview with media on April 24.
The Bacolod City government, led by Mayor Greg Gasataya, broke ground for the P66-million project on Jan. 29 as part of efforts to address the city’s increasing waste disposal demands and improve solid waste management.
ISWIMS, the project contractor, also handles garbage hauling, collection, disposal, and maintenance of the landfill facility.
Sandil said the landfill has been recognized by the Environmental Management Bureau as a model sanitary landfill due to the proper implementation of engineering components in Cell No. 4, including benching systems, slope protection, and soil covering. The existing cell is now nearing full capacity.
The new facility is classified as a Category 4 landfill, with the capacity to accommodate between 2,500 and 5,000 tons of waste daily. However, it is expected to have a lifespan of only two to three years. At present, all collected waste in the city is still being disposed of in Cell No. 4.
Sandil attributed the landfill’s efficiency to the engineering measures applied on-site, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
Waste-to-energy initiative
Meanwhile, ISWIMS expressed support for the proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in Bacolod City, saying it would improve efficiency and reduce reliance on traditional landfill systems.
If realized, the project would be the first of its kind in the Visayas, converting waste into energy through controlled processes and helping ease pressure on landfill space.
The city government has partnered with the Department of Energy to advance renewable energy and WTE initiatives. The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed on Jan. 26 by Gasataya and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin at the DOE Central Office in Taguig City.
The agreement provides a framework for technical cooperation in developing a WTE facility. A 2022 DOE study had earlier identified Bacolod City as a viable site for such a project.
Fewer waste complaints
The Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office reported a decline in waste-related complaints, now averaging around five per day.
BENRO head Allyn Luv Dignadice said complaints are received through text messages, emails, hotline calls, and walk-in reports, with most cases involving missed garbage collection.
However, she noted that many incidents occur when residents dispose of waste outside scheduled collection times.
To address this, ISWIMS validates reported cases and ensures uncollected garbage is retrieved within hours. Monitoring teams from both BENRO and ISWIMS continue to coordinate closely to improve collection efficiency and overall waste management services in the city./PN
