Bataan landfill padlocked for ‘environmental offense’

HERMOSA, Bataan, Philippines  – A sanitary landfill in this town has been temporarily shut down by the local government for alleged violation of environmental laws.

Mayor Antonio Joseph Inton led police and local officials in closing the seven-hectare facility in Barangay Mambog on Wednesday. 

The closure stemmed from the findings of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) that the facility lacked equipment to protect the town’s underground water source from contamination.

The closure order was served by the mayor to the Econest Waste Management Corp., operator of the sanitary landfill facility.

Lawyer Beulah Coeli Fiel, president and chief executive officer of Econest Corp., said the DENR-EMB has the authority to issue a cease and desist order for violations of environmental laws.

Fiel said the DENR has the sole authority to release compliance certificates for the construction and operation of sanitary landfill facilities.

Established in 2017, Fiel said the P48-million facility has been cited for having organized garbage cells and material recovery features.

The facility employs 70 workers, mostly local residents.