Cebu Councilor Pushes Classroom Waste Education Solution
As Cebu City grapples with mounting garbage woes following the Binaliw landfill collapse, a local official is calling for a fundamental shift in approach: teaching proper waste management in schools across all levels.
Councilor Joel Garganera, who chairs the City Council's Committee on Environment and Energy, delivered a privilege speech on Tuesday urging educational authorities to integrate basic solid waste management into curricula nationwide.
Learning from Japan's Success
Garganera's proposal draws heavily from recent observations during a waste management training in Yokohama, Japan, where he joined officials from the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office and City Planning and Development Office.
"Yokohama's experience mirrors Cebu City's past," Garganera noted, explaining how the Japanese city overcame similar challenges through consistent education starting from nursery school.
The Japanese metropolis now operates just four waste-to-energy facilities, down from seven, thanks to improved recycling and segregation practices that significantly reduced landfill dependence.
Beyond Quick Fixes
The councilor warned against viewing landfills as permanent solutions, citing Yokohama's Shinmeidai Landfill, which closed in 2017 but still requires ongoing rehabilitation and leachate treatment.
"It is deeply unfortunate that we closed one landfill only to consider reopening another that was never rehabilitated," Garganera said, referring to plans to use the Inayawan site as a temporary transfer station.
He questioned this move under Republic Act 9003, which prohibits waste storage at transfer stations beyond 24 hours.
Reviving Waste-to-Energy Discussions
Garganera also urged city officials to reconsider waste-to-energy technology as a complementary solution, recalling a previously stalled joint venture with New Sky Energy Philippines Inc.
He pointed to evolving national policy, including the Department of Energy's inclusion of WTE in the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050 and recent guidelines from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
"These issuances show national government openness to WTE," he emphasized.
City Administration's Cautious Stance
Mayor Nestor Archival remains open but cautious about waste-to-energy solutions, citing health, environmental, and regulatory concerns.
"If there is WTE technology, give us the directions," Archival said recently. "If that is one of the solutions, then we want it."
Currently, the city transports about 600 tons of daily garbage to a private Consolacion landfill under an agreement ending February 11. Neighboring cities Talisay and Minglanilla have declined to accept Cebu City's waste.
Education as Foundation
Amid these challenges, Garganera formally moved to urge the Department of Education, Local School Board, and higher education agencies to embed waste management concepts into formal curricula.
"Not everyone is mindful of where their garbage ends up," he said. "That is precisely why education must start early."
The proposal represents a long-term approach to addressing Metro Cebu's persistent waste management challenges through behavioral change and environmental awareness from childhood.