ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9003 ]

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM, CREATING THE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS AND
INCENTIVES, DECLARING CERTAIN ACTS PROHIBITED AND PROVIDING
PENALTIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
INTRODUCTION
In early July 2000, 2 typhoons ravaged parts of the Philippines causing flooding and
deaths.
In Quezon City, a huge municipal garbage dump, ironically named the Promised
land by locals also known as Payatas Dumpsite, became a sodden, unstable mass
and then collapsed and burst into the ground in July 10.
Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, who is in charge of the rescue operation then
said, It's high time to come up with a national policy on solid waste management.
We cannot allow people to live so dangerously under the shadow of death in this
dumpsite. We should have implemented the law much more strictly. 1
Its the sort of horrifying tragedy that inspires quick legislative action. Later that
same year, the Philippine government swiftly shut the Payatas open dump and
passed the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, a law that seeks to manage
Manilas trash problem by mandating things like sanitary landfills rather than
festering open dumps. But the legislations biggest goal is to reduce the amount of
garbage that needs to be dumped through recycling and composting programs. 2 RA
9003 is a sweeping piece of legislation enacted to radically transform and improve
waste management.3
RA 9003 Ecological Waste Management Act
The law provides the legal framework to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and
ecological waste management program which shall ensure protection of public
health.4
The law also set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume
reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures, including
composing, recycling, re-use, recovery, green charcoal process, and others, before
collection, treatment and disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid
waste management facilities in accordance with ecologically sustainable
development principles.5
What is Ecological Solid Waste Management?

1 Pagano, A. (2000, July 21). "Promised Land" garbage landslide kills at least 200 in the Philippines. Retrieved
from http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/07/phil-j21.html

2 Almendral, A. (2014, March 26). The Slum That Became Manilas Recycling Champ. Retrieved from
http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/the-impoverished-slum-that-became-manilas-model-recycler

3 MMDA vs Concerned Citizens of Manila Bay, G.R. Nos. 171947-48, December 18, 2008
4 Sec.2 (a), Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003)
5 Sec 2 (c), Ibid.
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ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

Ecological solid waste management shall refer to the systematic administration
of activities which provide for segregation at source, segregated transportation,
storage, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid waste and all other
waste management activities which do not harm the environment. 6
The management of the waste materials shall start at the household level. This is to
promote proper handling of the waste materials before its collection and disposal.
What is Segregation?
Segregation shall refer to a solid waste management practice of separating
different materials found in solid waste in order to promote recycling and reuse of
resources and to reduce the volume of waste for collection and disposal. 7
Segregation of wastes shall primarily be conducted at the source, to include
household, institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural sources. 8
Segregation and Storage of Solid Waste
The law provides for the minimum standards and requirements for segregation and
storage of solid wastes before its collection.
1. There shall be a separate container for each type of waste from all sources:
Provided, that in the case of bulky waste, it will suffice that the same be
collected and placed in a separate and designated area.
2. The solid waste container depending on its use shall be properly marked or
identified for on-site collection as "compostable", "non-recyclable",
"recyclable" or "special waste", or any other classification as may be
determined by the Commission.9
What is Storage?
Storage shall refer to the interim containment of solid waste after generation and
prior to collection for ultimate recovery or disposal. 10
Transfer Stations
Transfer stations shall refer to those facilities utilized to receive solid wastes,
temporarily store, separate, convert, or otherwise process the materials in the solid
wastes, or to transfer the solid wastes directly from smaller to larger vehicles for
transport.
Except:
1. A facility whose principal function is to receive, store, separate, convert, or

6 Sec.3 (l), Ibid.

7 Sec.3 (ii), Ibid.
8 Sec 21, Ibid.
9 Sec. 22, Ibid.
10 Sec 3 (qq), Ibid.
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ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

otherwise process in accordance with national minimum standards, manure.
2. A facility, whose principal function is to receive, store, convert, or otherwise
process wastes which have already been separated for re-use and are not
intended for disposal.
3. The operations premises of a duly licensed solid waste handling operator who
receives, stores, transfers, or otherwise processes wastes as an activity
incidental to the conduct of a refuse collection and disposal business. 11
What is Collection?
Collection shall refer to the act of removing solid waste from the source or from a
communal storage point.12
Collection and Transport
The law lays down the minimum requirements for the collection and transport of the
Solid Wastes.
COLLECTION
1. All collectors and other personnel
directly dealing with collection of
solid waste shall be equipped with
personal protective equipment to
protect them from the hazards of
handling solid wastes.
2. Necessary training shall be given
to the collectors and personnel to
ensure that the solid wastes are
handled
properly
and
in
accordance with the guidelines
pursuant to this Act.
3. Collection of solid waste shall be
done in a manner which prevents
damage to the container, and
spillage or scattering of solid
waste
within
the
collection
13
vicinity.

TRANSPORT
1. The use of separate collection
schedules and/or separate trucks
or haulers shall be required for
specific
types
of
wastes.
Otherwise, vehicles used for the
collection and transport of solid
wastes shall have the appropriate
compartments
to
facilitate
efficient storing of sorted wastes
while in transit.
2. Vehicles shall be designed to
consider road size, condition and
capacity to ensure the safe and
efficient collection and transport
of solid wastes.
3. The waste compartment shall
have a cover to ensure the
containment of solid wastes while
in transit.
4. For the purpose of identification,
vehicles shall bear the body
number, the name, and telephone
number of the contractor/agency
collecting solid waste.14

11 Sec. 3 (rr), Ibid.

12 Sec.3 (e),Ibid.
13 Sec.23, Ibid.
14 Sec 24, Ibid.
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ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

What is Solid Waste?
Solid waste shall refer to all discarded household, commercial waste,
nonhazardous institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction
debris, agriculture waste, and other non-hazardous/non-toxic solid waste.
Unless specifically noted otherwise, the term solid waste as used in this Act shall
not include:
1. Hazardous Waste waste identified or listed as hazardous waste of a solid,
liquid, contained gaseous or semisolid form which may cause or contribute to
an increase in mortality or in serious or incapacitating reversible illness, or
acute/chronic effect on the health of persons and other organisms
2. Infectious waste wastes from hospitals such as equipment, instruments,
utensils, and fomites of a disposable nature from patients who are suspected
to have or have been diagnosed as having communicable diseases and must
therefore be isolated as required by public health agencies, laboratory wastes
such as pathological specimens (i.e., all tissues, specimens of blood
elements, excreta, and secretions obtained from patients or laboratory
animals), and disposable fomites that may harbor or transmit pathogenic
organisms, and surgical operating room pathologic specimens and disposable
fomites attendant thereto, and similar disposable materials from outpatient
areas and emergency rooms; and
3. Mining Wastes waste resulting from mining activities, including
contaminated soil and debris.15
What are the Classification of Solid Waste?
1. Compostable Wastes these are biodegradable wastes such as food waste,
garden waste, animal waste and human waste. They undergo biological
degradation under controlled conditions and can be turned into compost (soil
conditioner or organic fertilizer) by mixing them with soil, water, air and
biological additives/activators (optional).
Examples are:

Fruit and vegetable peelings

Leftover foods
Vegetable trims
Fish/fowl/meat/animal entrails
Soft shells
Seeds
Leaves
Flowers
Twigs
Branches
Stems

2. Recyclable Wastes Recyclable materials refer to any waste material

15 Sec.3 (kk), Ibid.

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ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

retrieved from the waste stream and free from contamination that can still be
converted into suitable beneficial use. These may be transformed into new
products in such a manner that the original products may lose their identity.
Examples are:
Newspaper
Ferrous scrap metal
Non-ferrous scrap metal
Corrugated cardboard
Aluminum Glass
Office paper
Tin cans
3. Residual Wastes these are solid waste materials that are noncompostable and non-recyclable. It should be disposed ecologically through a
long-term disposal facility or sanitary landfill.
Examples are:
Sanitary napkins
Disposable diapers
Worn-out rugs
Cartons which contain a plastic lining usually used for milk and juice
containers
Ceramics
Candy wrappers/sachets
Other soiled materials that cannot be composted and recycled
4. Special Wastes Special wastes refer to household hazardous wastes. 16
Examples are:
Paints
Thinners
Household batteries
Lead-acid batteries Spray
Canisters
Bulky Wastes such as:
Large worn-out or broken furniture
Lamps Bookcases
Filing Cabinets
Consumer Electronics which refer to worn-out, broken and other
discarded items such as
Radios
Stereos
TV sets
White Goods which refer to large worn-out or broken household
appliances such as:
Stoves
Refrigerators
Dishwashers
Clothes Washers

16 Sec.17(j),Ibid.
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ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

Dryers

Oil
Tires

What is the role of the Local Government Units (LGUs) in Solid Waste
Management?
The LGUs shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of
the provisions of this Act within their respective jurisdictions. Segregation and
collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level specifically for
biodegradable, compostable and reusable wastes: Provided, that the collection of
non-recyclable materials and special wastes shall be the responsibility of the
municipality or city.17
Marikina City has a separated waste collection service within its barangays. The city
collects solid wastes from households, markets, and commercial establishments,
with two trucks traveling in tandem collecting biodegradable or nonbiodegradable
wastes. The nonbiodegradable fraction is taken to the recycling station for sorting,
where workers extract materials utilizing a mechanized conveyor system.
Recyclable materials are then placed in large bins for temporary storage before
being transferred to downstream private recyclers for eventual further processing
and reuse. The biodegradable fraction is taken to the disposal site where it is
spread, compacted, and covered with soil. The barangays are not allowed to collect
recyclable materials, except for tree cuttings and garden and yard wastes. The
dump site is in the process of being closed. 18
Pasay Citys waste collection and disposal is undertaken through private sector
total package contracts. The contractors are responsible for the entire collection,
transfer, and disposal of wastes. The city is divided into five sectors, for which the
number of truck trips has been agreed between the city and the contractors. Four
contractors run a total of 102 truck trips. The contractors dump wherever they
can, including Rodriguez, Montalban. Transfer and disposal are considered
expensive, taking up to 4 hours per load, and costing up to P1,500 ($27) per truck
for tipping fees at private dump sites.19
National Solid Waste Management Commission
The Commission shall oversee the implementation of solid waste management
plans and prescribe policies to achieve the objectives of this Act. 20
Non-Environmentally Acceptable Packaging (NEAP) materials
Section 5 of Rule XII of the RA9003 IRR stipulates that:

17 Sec.10, Ibid.
18 Asian Development Bank. (2004) The Garbage Book. Retrieved from
http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/29301/garbage-book.pdf

19 Ibid.
20 Sec.5, Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000
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ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

The Commission should decide on the basis of a set of criteria, which
products or packaging are non-environmentally acceptable. Provided, that
this criteria is regularly reviewed to ensure its appropriateness and accuracy,
in light of scientific and technical progress, and of the experience gained in
this area. Prohibiting non-environmentally acceptable products, any decision
to prohibit certain packaging types and products must be supported by
available scientific, environmental, technical and economic information and
technical studies through, but not limited to life cycle assessment and
economic analysis. Provided that the Commission consults representatives
from affected industries and subject to public notice and hearing.
A Technical Working Committee within the National Solid Waste Management
Commission was created to identify NEAP materials. The committee identified the
following products that are due for assessment:
1. Plastic Packaging (Sando Bags, Polystyrene, Laminates, Sachets) including
Food Containers and Baby Products with Pthalates Core Members: DOH-FDA,
PPIA, PIP, PPCP, DTI-BPS, NGO, Academe (Ateneo, UP, Mapua, La Salle)
2. Electronic Goods (Includes Cellphone, Cellphone Batteries and Accessories)
Core Members: PAIA/EAPI, DTI-BPS, DENR-EMB, PPIA, NGO, Academe (UP,
Mapua, La Salle)
3. Products with Heavy Metals DOH-FDA, DTI-BPS, DENR-EMB, NGO, Academe
(UP, Mapua), NGO, Academe (Ateneo, UP, Mapua, La Salle), Private Sector
4. Construction Materials DPWH, DTI-BPS, FPI, PCEPSDI, PPCP, Academe (UP
Engineering, Mapua, La Salle)
Plastic carry bags and foam polystyrene were selected to undergo the first round of
evaluation by the NEAP Technical Committee. Due to perceived contribution of
plastic bags to flooding, land and marine pollution and its low recycling rate many
LGUs have already passed ordinances banning and or regulating the sale and use of
the two packaging materials.
Reacting to the LGU trend, the plastic industry have undertaken voluntary measures
such as in store recovery programs in cooperation with selected supermarkets and
the submission of oxo-biodegradable plastic bags to the Bureau of Product
Standards as industrys alternative to non-degradable plastic carry bags.
At present, a number of LGUS have enacted an ordinance regulating the use of
plastics in their localities, including Los Banos in Laguna; Muntinlupa, Metro Manila;
Burgos, Ilocos Sur; and San Marcos, Isabela. Further, Quezon City and some
Caloocan City barangays have initiated the plastic bag recycling. 21
Public Education and Information
The Commission shall, in coordination with DECS, TESDA, CHED, DILG and PIA, conduct a
continuing education and information campaign on solid waste management. Such education and
information program shall:
(a) Aim to develop public awareness of the ill-effects of and the community based solutions to the
solid waste problem.

21 National Solid Waste Management Strategy 2012 2016. Retrieved from

http://emb.gov.ph/portal/Portals/38/NSWMC%20Strategies/NSWM%20Strategy%202012-2016.pdf

ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

(b) Concentrate on activities which are feasible and which will have the greatest impact on the solid
waste problem of the country, like resource conservation and recovery, recycling, segregation at
source, re-use, reduction and composting of solid waste.
(c) Encourage the general public, accredited NGOs and people's organizations to publicly endorse
and patronize environmentally acceptable products and packaging materials.
Penal Provisions
PROHIBITED ACTS
1. Littering dumping of
waste matters in public
places, canals, estuaries,
or permitting the same.
2. Open burning of solid
waste
3. Causing or permitting
the collection of nonsegregated or unsorted
waste.
4.
Mixing
of
source
separated materials with
other solid waste in any
vehicle, box, receptacle

PENALTIES and FINES

Php300 Php1,000 and/or
community service of 1
day to 15 days

PERSONS LIABLE
Private Person Littering,
dumping.
Public Officials - Permitting

Php 300 Php 100 and/or

imprisonment of 1 to 15
days
Php1,000

Php3,000
and/or imprisonment of 15
days to 6 months.

Private persons or Public

officials.

1st offense: PhP500,000

plus 5% - 10% of income
for the previous year;
2nd
offense:

Private persons who

collect the waste (waste
contractors)
Local Officials Mayor,
Engineer.
Garbage
contractors;
Local
governments
garbage collectors.

imprisonment of 1-3 years

5.
Establishment
or
operation
of
open
dumpsite

1st offense: PhP500,000

fine
2nd offense: 1 to 3 years
imprisonment

Private persons who allow

their property to be used
as open dumps; Public
officials who master open
dumps

Administrative Sanctions
Local Government officials
who fail to comply with or
enforce the law shall be
charged administratively
Citizen Suit: Any citizen
may initiate a legal action
against any private person
or public official

Administrative, civil, and

criminal liability

Public officials

Under
the
Legal
Empowerment Program of
the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines, it will assist
any citizen who will file a
case against any person
or public official who fails
to implement the law

Mass action suit against

private
citizens;
administrative,
civil,
and/or criminal charges
against public officials

ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000