Intensive garbage segregation planned

As part of its continuing efforts to address Metro Manila’s garbage woes, the government is planning to conduct an intensive two-year campaign to encourage people to segregate their garbage.

Presidential Flagship Projects Adviser Robert Aventajado said this would make residents aware that they must do their part to address the garbage problem in the metropolis.

"We’ll push this in the next two years. We want to encourage all homes and make them aware that garbage is everyone’s concern," Aventajado said.

The presidential adviser also chairs the Greater Metropolitan Manila Solid Waste Management Committee, which President Estrada has tasked to address Metro Manila’s garbage woes.

The President earlier ordered the San Mateo landfill in Rizal province closed effective Dec. 31, following complaints by its residents.

Earlier, Aventajado admitted that his office is feeling the time pressure to find a viable alternative to the San Mateo landfill before Dec. 31.

But he said that even if the government were to establish such a facility by then, it would be useless if Metro Manila residents continue to generate garbage.

"In places where there are no persons, there is no garbage. But in places where there are many people, there is much garbage. We can see that the main cause of garbage is people," he said.

He said that with the segregation program, residents would learn to minimize their generation of garbage, while helping the government address the problem of garbage disposal.

"We need a place to put our garbage, but we also need to have the help of the people to minimize the volume of garbage that goes to the landfills. We can do this by segregating garbage," he said.