New Guidelines Closure of Dumps

8/11/2019 New Guidelines Closure of Dumps

1/3

News Release

National Solid Waste Management Commission Releases Guidelines

for the Closure and Rehabilitation of Dumpsites

The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) has

formally released the guidelines for the closure and rehabilitation of

disposal facilities.

The Guidelines on the Closure and Rehabilitation of Disposal Facilities

(NSWMC Resolution No. 5), in effect since December 15, 2005, specify

the components needed in the implementation of a closure and

rehabilitation plan for open and controlled dump facilities. Republic Act

No. (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, mandates

the closure and phasing out of all open dumps and controlled dumps

within five years from its effectivity on February 16, 2001.

The guidelines are being set to ensure that closure of the dumps and

disposal facilities will be done in a proper manner, with environmental

protection measures and safeguards in place.

Prior to closure, all dumpsites are to be assessed on the following:

location, access, area, lot owner, terrain, surrounding land-use,


2/3

surrounding surface features, nearby human receptors, hydrogeologic

setting, wells, springs and surface water bodies near site, daily waste

volume, waste pile dimensions and volume, extent of exposed waste,

period of operation, slope, drainage if any, evidence of contamination,

presence of squatters and waste pickers, reports or evidence of

spontaneous combustion, reported dumping of hazardous wastes, and

number and types vehicles which bring in waste to the location. This is

to identify potential environmental hazards the disposal facilities cause,

to formulate appropriate remedial and mitigating measures to address

such.

The DENR requires cities and municipalities to prepare a rehabilitation

and closure plan, following the site assessment, to be implemented by

local government units. The plan should include components such as

site clearing, relocation of informal settlers at dumpsite, site grading and

stabilization of critical slopes, application and maintenance of soil cover,

provision of drainage control system, leachate management, gas

management, fencing and security, prohibition of burning at the

dumpsite, and putting up of signages.

The Guideline also designates the Provincial and Community

Environment and Natural Resources Offices of the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources to provide technical assistance to


3/3

local government units (LGUs) in the formulation of their respective site

closure and rehabilitation plan which should be submitted to the

Regional Office of the Environmental Management Bureau for the

issuance of an Authority to Close (ATC). The ATC stipulates the approval

of the Closure Plan, along with the conditions requisite to the site closure

program and monitoring of the LGUs.

Closed sites that are to be found to be reused as open dumps will be

sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of RA 9003 and

Presidential Decree No. 984.

In relation, the NSWMC-Secretariat has released a Guidebook for Safe

Closure of Disposal Sites, a manual ensuring the safe closure and

rehabilitation of disposal facilities in the country. The Guidebook is

available for free at the NSWMC Secretariat Office at the 2ndFlr., HRD

Building, DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, with

contact nos. (632) 920-2252, 920-2279, 925-4796 / 925-4797 local 3. #

Documents

New Guidelines Closure of Dumps