Where’s closure plan for Inayawan landfill?

WHERE’s the closure plan for the Inayawan sanitary landfill, which is still being used as a dumpsite in Cebu City beyond its normal capacity?

The plan is being worked out by the Solid Waste Management Board, said city administrator Jose Marie Poblete yesterday.

In the meantime, daily hauling of the city’s trash to Consolacion town will continue as part of diversion program.

The absence of a closure plan came up in the executive session of the City Council yesterday.

Asked why no plan was made, landfill manager Engr. Edgar Navarro said this may be due to the mayor’s pending proposal for a waste-to-energy project in the 16-hectare landfill

Mayor Michael Rama ordered the Inayawan landfill closed in December last year to comply with the Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) in December last year.

Councilor Nida Cabrera reiterated that any waste-to-energy proposal would have to undergo scrutiny by the Cebu City Council to safeguard the environment and public health.

The City Council has yet to deliberate on the proposal of the Greenergy Solutions Inc., which was endorsed by the SWMB to convert solid waste to electric power.

Poblete defended yesterday the City Hall’s lease of trucks and other heavy equipment to transport garbage to Consolacion.

He said the P3, 999 per day lease from Armed Builders and Supply gave the lowest bid. Trucks are normally leased at P4, 000 per hour, he said.

He said the contract with Armed Builders and Supply was a rental on a daily basis and that “ it is up to us to optimize use of the equipment.”

The contract underwent bidding and was issued a Purchase Order or PO for its services.

Navarro, the landfill manager, said Cebu City was only able to dispose of 40 percent of its daily garbage collection in the Consolacion landfill while 60 percent is “stored” in the Inayawan landfill be for lack of equipment to haul the waste.

In a March 26 letter to Mayor Rama, Navarro proposed a per trip payment scheme for the leased trucks to save on funds.

Poblete said he has to check on the letter which he couldn’t recall off hand. He commended Navarro for raising the concern on the leased trucks as “an indication that he is looking after his department.”