• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance declaring E-waste as hazardous materials, establishing strict guidelines and regulations for the collection, handling, storage, and disposal in Bacolod City, was recently passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on third and final reading.
Authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., the ordinance said there is a need for Bacolod City to institutionalize a local framework for E-waste collection and disposal to ensure safety, environmental integrity, and compliance with national regulations.
The ordinance, to be known as “Bacolod City E-Waste Management Ordinance” provides for the mandatory segregation of E-waste materials for all households, business establishments, shopping malls, schools, government offices, and institutions and for them to declare all E-waste for separate handling and collection. Shopping malls and business establishments must provide for an E-waste drop-off bin and collection events.
Only DENR-accredited E-waste collectors, facilities, or recyclers will be allowed to transport or dispose of E-waste in Bacolod City. The city will maintain a public registry of authorized handlers through the Bacolod City Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) and City Licensing Office.
The ordinance also provides for the observance of proper disposal treatments that involve a series of technical, chemical, and physical processes aimed at separating, recycling, and safely disposing hazardous materials. Non-recyclable hazardous components are sent to specialized, secure landfills or destroyed in certified incinerators. The city’s E-waste disposal sites or transfer stations will be regularly monitored by the City Health Office and DENR.
The BENRO will adopt a rewards and incentives program to strengthen and improve hazardous waste management.
Penalties and sanctions for violation of the ordinance will range from a fine of P1,000 plus community service to a fine of P3,000 and community service.*
