Republic Act No.

9003 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

Our environment is craving for help to make it suitable to live. But we people are just letting it destroyed by our own deeds due to improper waste disposal. What should we do then? Basically, Ecological Solid Waste Management aims for the reduction of solid waste through source reduction and waste minimization measures, treatment and disposal of solid waste in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles. It also aims to ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration. The said act gives strong emphasis on the role of municipal and local government units providing for the creation of solid waste management communities up to the barangay level. This requires the participation of the nongovernment offices, peoples organizations, church leaders, schools, businesses and community organizations. For further understanding, RA 9003 is as act providing for an Ecological Solid Waste Management Program, creating the necessary Institutional Mechanisms and Incentives, for other purposes. It is hereby declared the policy of the state to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program to protect public health and environment, solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization through proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal excluding incineration, promote national research and development programs for improved solid waste management and resource conservation techniques, more effective institutional arrangement and indigenous and improved methods of waste reduction, collection, separation and recovery, encourage greater private sector participation, and strengthen the integration of ecological solid waste management and resource conservation and recovery topics into the academic declaring certain Acts prohibited and providing Penalties, Appropriating Funds therefor, and

curricula of formal and non-formal education in order to promote environmental awareness and action among the citizenry. There is a commission in this act which shall undertake the following activities such as prepare the NSWMF, approve local SWM plans in accordance with its rules and regulations, review and monitor the implementation, coordinate the operation of local SWM boards in the provincial and city/municipal levels, to the maximum extent feasible, utilizing existing resources, assist in the preparation, modification, and implementation of waste management plans, develop a model SWM plan that will establish prototypes of the content and format, adopt a program to provide technical and other capability building assistance and support to LGUs in the development and implementation of source reduction programs, develop and implement a program to assist in the identification of markets for materials that are diverted from disposal facilities through re-use, recycling, and composting, and other environmentfriendly methods, and develop a mechanism for the imposition of sanctions for the violation of environmental rules and regulations, develop and prescribe procedures for the issuance of appropriate permits and clearances, review the incentives scheme for effective solid waste management, for purposes of ensuring relevance and efficiency.

In general, the realization of this act depends on the people. We have the responsibility to take our part. Managing our waste starts from within. We must work hand in hand to keep our surroundings clean. Life will be comfortable to live if we are living in a fresh and hygienic environment.