EVALUATION OF SANITARY LANDFILL IN DALAGUETE, CEBU, PHILIPPINES BASED ON NORTHERN TERRITORY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY

Abstract

The increased accumulation of solid waste results in severe and extensive problems with waste disposal management. The purpose of this research was to evaluate if the present sanitary landfill in the Municipality of Dalaguete was incompliant with the guidelines based from the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA, 2013). The study was a descriptive type of research. The study used a questionnaire adopted from NT EPA, given to the Municipal Agriculture and Natural Resources Office (MANRO) staff and workers as the respondent. Statistical tools were used in the analysis of data. Data shows that 56% of the respondents were aware of the guidelines from Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (R.A. 9003) and Municipal Ordinance in the proper waste management. Whereas with regards to the establishment of the sanitary landfill set by the NT EPA (2013), the standard guidelines include: regulation, site selection, landfill design, operation and management, and landfill monitoring. The main problem were the guidelines of: operating and management with 86% compliant, and landfill monitoring with 79% compliant. However, based on the result of the study, the capacity left of the sanitary landfill was approximately 2–5 meters down, since the sanitary landfill was operating since 2003 and it was already in 18 years of operation, and the estimated lifespan of the sanitary landfill based from standard guidelines was up to 20 years. It was recommended that the current sanitary landfill must expand its area of coverage to accommodate the future waste of the Municipality.