Uphold the Philippine Ban on Waste Incineration

Incineration, including so-called "waste-to-energy" (WTE) incineration facilities (i.e. burning waste to produce electricity), is neither a good way to manage waste nor to produce electricity.

In fact, it is proven to be the most expensive, most polluting, most energy intensive and most inefficient way to manage waste and generate electricity:

1. Incineration is a major source of cancerous dioxins and furans, which are regulated under an international treaty, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; and

2. It is also the most expensive way to produce electricity--WTE facilities cost more to construct and operate than coal or nuclear plants.

But the government--through Congress and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)--are aggressively promoting WTE incineration thinking it will magically solve the country's waste problems.

House Bill 2286 seeks to repeal the incineration ban in the Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8749) and amend the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) in order to allow the entry of WTE incineration technologies in the Philippines. And the DENR is even paving the way for waste incineration, instead of of doing their duty to protect the environment.

The Clean Air Act guarantees every Filipino’s right to breathe clean air and right to a healthy environment. The ban on incineration supports this. Waste incineration aside from being a major source of cancer-causing emissions, also produces particulate matter, which is identified as a leading cause of premature deaths. The bill also undermines the country’s landmark waste law, RA 9003, which calls for an ecological approach to waste management.

Incinerators, and WTE incineration facilities threaten human health, pollute our air, land and water, harm our economies, contribute significantly to global warming, and fuel an unsustainable system of consumption and wasting. They have no place in an ecological waste management system, and in today's emerging circular economy.

Congress and the DENR must realize that incineration is not a feasible waste treatment option. Instead, they must work toward real solutions and adopt the Zero Waste approach to waste and resource management. This can start with the strict implementation of RA 9003 which does not only save money, but also creates jobs, improves public health and mitigates climate change.