The Philippines generates more than 21 million metric tons of waste annually, and with landfill capacity nearing exhaustion in several urban centers, the country’s waste management system is under intensifying scrutiny. Stakeholders at the 4th Liveable Cities Lab argued that circular economy adoption—long discussed but unevenly implemented—offers one of the few viable pathways to reverse the trend while creating measurable economic and social benefits.
Guillermo Luz, chairman of Liveable Cities Philippines, emphasized that the problem persists despite a two-decade-old legislative framework under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Most local government units (LGUs) still rely on open dumping or uncontrolled landfill practices, with compliance rates at just over 30% according to recent government audits. “By embracing the circular economy, we can transform waste into jobs, resources, and cleaner communities,” Luz said, stressing that unchecked waste undermines climate resilience, public health, and competitiveness.
Policy initiatives are emerging, though their reach and effectiveness remain uneven. The Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project, a five-year program backed by the Global Environment Facility, seeks to curb toxic emissions from healthcare facilities while involving small businesses and communities. According to Dr. Al Oga Orolfo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the initiative extends beyond compliance, aiming to generate green jobs and unlock environmental finance. Parallel to this, the €61-million EU-funded Green Economy Programme supports 60 LGUs through 2028, with goals spanning waste reduction, energy efficiency, and renewable energy integration.
Local innovation offers signs of progress. Legazpi City’s Smart Waste Management System has already delivered quantifiable gains: fuel consumption dropped 23% in 2024 compared to the previous year, translating to nearly eight tons of CO₂-equivalent avoided and ₱1.28 million in fuel savings. While modest in absolute terms, the pilot highlights how digital route optimization can yield measurable environmental and fiscal returns if scaled nationwide. Manila is taking a different route, rolling out a 10-year waste management program with UNDP support. Plans include over 600 recovery systems, 10 barangay-level facilities, and a mobile material recovery facility, signaling an attempt to expand waste diversion infrastructure at a city-wide scale.
The private sector is also beginning to confront its role in the waste equation, particularly around plastics. Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines has outlined strategies to address plastic waste in a sachet-dominated market, though industry critics question whether corporate initiatives can meaningfully reduce the country’s estimated 163 million plastic sachets consumed daily. Without systemic reforms—such as extended producer responsibility, stricter waste segregation enforcement, and robust recycling markets—corporate clean-up programs risk being perceived as palliative rather than transformative.
Underlying all these efforts is the structural problem of fragmented execution. National policy, donor-backed projects, and isolated city initiatives are advancing in parallel, but coordination remains limited. The challenge is to align circular economy goals with practical implementation, from scalable waste-to-value systems to inclusive recycling markets. Without that integration, the Philippines risks continuing to spend on projects that mitigate symptoms without addressing the root causes of the waste crisis.
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