Open Burning of Solid Waste in the Philippines: Regulations, Compliance and Initiatives

Abstract

Open burning of solid waste has many documented negative effects on human health and the environment. Despite this information, the practice is still widespread, especially in developing nations such as the Philippines. An internet-based assessment of national and local laws and ordinances prohibiting open burning of solid waste was conducted to determine the regulations and ordinances concerned with open burning. Informal discussions were also held with barangay officials, law enforcers and ordinary citizens concerning open burning. The assessment showed that the Philippines is a signatory to an international treaty advocating the reduction of open burning, has a national law on solid waste management, and has numerous local government units with ordinances addressing the problem of open burning. However, information from informal discussions done in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines showed that many residents and local officials are not sufficiently aware of the negative effects of the practice, are not well- versed in the implementation of laws and ordinances, and consider compliance as merely optional. However, the web search also revealed initiatives and alternatives to open burning that have been well-received by the general population of Alaminos City in Pangasinan, Philippines, and have been well implemented by the authorities concerned.