EDITORIAL – A step closer to solving the garbage problem

The Cebu City government is clearly dead serious about implementing the Solid Waste Management Act. Proof of this are the criminal charges filed against violators of City Ordinance No. 2031, which provides for a "no segregation, no collection" policy. Among those sued by the Cebu City Waste Management Board is a barangay captain who was caught violating the law.

The filing of the complaint against the barangay exec should be enough to push stubborn city residents to follow the law. After all, if the city has the courage to sue an elective official, then it has no reason to spare its many other constituents should they ignore the laws being implemented by the city.

When Cebu City first announced its intention to implement one of the requirements of the Solid Waste Management Act, that is to segregate garbage at the source, there were many apprehensions. Some said the idea will not simply work, while some said that segregation is just an added burden, especially for people who do not have the time and resources.

Segregation of garbage indeed entails additional expenses because one has to have additional containers for the biodegradable, non-biodegradable, reusable, hazardous and bulky wastes. It is also an additional work for whoever is in charge of the garbage at home because then one has to separate garbage into the different categories.

But are these valid reasons to just ignore the law? Of course not. This stubbornness of some city residents, as proven by the 3,968 citation tickets issued by the city government since the implementation of the ordinance, is an indication that there are people who resist change.

Yes, waste segregation is something new to Cebuanos. In fact, the idea is new to the country. As far as we could remember, we Filipinos have had no experience in segregating our garbage right in our homes. However, waste segregation being a new thing to us is no excuse for violating the law. A law exists on garbage segregation so all of us should abide by it even if we are not used to doing what it requires us to do.

The law on Solid Waste Management was enacted because our legislators saw the need for it. Garbage disposal is even one of the problems of the country right now. We may have vast lands which we can turn into dumps but after these dump sites get filled up, what do we do next? Thus, the enactment of the Solid Waste Management Law. Other countries are doing well in this field. It is about time that we follow suit. And Cebu City's vigilance in implementing its "no segregation, no collection" policy is one of the first steps to solving our garbage problems.