Mandaue enforces strict waste segregation policy

Local

WHAT residents throw away—and how they throw it away—has now become a key battleground in Mandaue City’s effort to keep its streets clean amid an ongoing garbage disposal crisis.

City officials have intensified waste segregation enforcement across all 27 barangays following the closure of the Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City, which previously served as a major disposal site.

To strengthen monitoring at the community level, the city has deployed eco-wardens tasked with ensuring compliance with waste management rules.

City Councilor Dante Borbajo, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay–Mandaue City Chapter, said Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano directed barangay officials to strictly and consistently implement waste segregation at the source.

Borbajo acknowledged that segregation remains a challenge due to varying behavior among residents and households.

“Waste segregation is difficult because people behave differently, which is why barangay officials and personnel must be diligent,” Borbajo said.

The deployment of eco-wardens followed a request raised during a meeting on January 19, which the mayor approved by assigning three job-order eco-wardens per barangay.

After undergoing orientation with the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the eco-wardens immediately began roving inspections, information campaigns, and monitoring of garbage disposal practices.

Eco-wardens are authorized to inspect garbage, check compliance with collection schedules, and monitor violations such as indiscriminate dumping or unsegregated waste.

Under the city ordinance, violators may be fined P500, with half of the amount going to the city and the other half serving as an incentive for the apprehending eco-warden.

Mandaue City collects biodegradable waste every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while residual and recyclable waste are collected every Tuesday and Thursday.

Borbajo said the city has also resumed incentives for barangays that consistently comply with waste segregation rules, noting that enforcement remains difficult because garbage is often placed in sealed plastic bags and sacks.

The stricter enforcement comes as the city continues to search for long-term solutions after a deadly trash slide forced the closure of the Binaliw Landfill.

As an interim measure, the city designated a portion of the Mandaue Green Learning Park in Barangay Umapad as a temporary transfer station to sustain daily garbage collection.

Prior to this, the Mandaue City Council authorized Mayor Ouano, during a special session on January 22, to engage a private hauling firm to prevent garbage buildup following the suspension of landfill operations.

The council ratified a memorandum of agreement with Infinite Hauling Services for emergency waste hauling and disposal from January 15 to April 15, 2026, with the total cost estimated at around P60 million.

Under the arrangement, garbage collected in Mandaue City is temporarily brought to the Umapad transfer station before being hauled to a designated disposal site in Barangay Garing, Consolacion, as the city continues to explore long-term waste management solutions.(MyTVCebu)