Tondo barangay bans breaking of toxic lamps

A Tondo barangay (village) located near a dump is cleaning up its act to safeguard their area from toxic waste.

Barangay 105, Zone 8 (District I) under its chairman, Luisito Reyes, passed a resolution on Monday banning the breaking of light bulbs containing mercury in the area.

The move came on the heels of an investigation of toxic material conducted by environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition at the barangay’s Sitio (settlement) Damayan in April.

EcoWaste had detected toxic levels of mercury vapor at the Pier 18 garbage transfer station in areas where discarded compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were destroyed by scavengers for metals such as aluminum and copper, which they  sell to junk shops.

A barangay resolution strictly  prohibits the practice since it “directly exposes informal recyclers and the entire community, especially young children, to mercury vapor pollution.”

Mercury is highly toxic and, if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, can damage the brain and the central nervous system and cause other serious diseases, it warned.

Junk shops in the barangay were also prohibited from buying aluminum and copper materials extracted from the improperly recycled or discarded bulbs.

Those caught will be charged with violation of the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the Clean Air Act and similar environmental laws.

The barangay council also vowed to hold information campaigns on toxic metals and other health and environmental hazards, and study proper waste management procedures for CFLs, in consultation with related government agencies.

The EcoWaste Coalition hailed the resolution, calling it a “historic” move to protect the community’s health.

The resolution will take effect on December 7.