The GIZ Integrated Resource Management in Asian Cities: The Urban Nexus and ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat (ICLEI SEAS) strongly support clustering of local governments to address solid waste management (SWM) concerns in the Philippines. This is in line with the guidelines issued by the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) concerning the topic.

To this end, ICLEI SEAS and the Nexus project, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Laguna and NSWMC, organized a technical workshop titled “Integrated Solid Waste Management: Innovative Methods of Treating Waste” last April 27 in Santa Cruz, Laguna.

A total of 86 participants attended the activity representing 29 local government units (LGUs) and one provincial government. Twenty-seven (27) LGUs were from the province of Laguna. Speakers were from WEHRLE Umwelt and EU-Welle Environmental Technology GmbH, both based in Germany. Topics included mechanical and biological process of treating municipal solid waste, leachate treatment, and utilization of landfill gas. The Maximum Yield Technology (MYT) was also introduced during the workshop. MYT is an existing technology applied in Germany and is able to recycle up to 90% of the waste while requiring little space.

The NSWMC also presented its guidelines on SWM clustering. Ms. Juvy Serafin, Senior Environmental Management Specialist at NSWMC, highlighted the important role of the provincial government in terms of applying this approach. She explained that there is a need to conduct a provincial mapping study to determine clustering options based on distances and availability of potential sites.

Mr. Ricarte Castillo, Head of Waste Management and Pollution Control Division of the Provincial Government of Laguna – Environment and Natural Resource Office (PG-ENRO) expressed support in the clustering approach. He noted that the Laguna Province’s 10-year SWM plan considers clustering as a potential strategy using the four congressional districts as basis for cluster formation. Further, the province is also keen on exploring the feasibility of putting up a waste-to-energy facility. Moving forward, a more detailed study on SWM clustering for Laguna Province including recommendations of possible technical solutions will be elaborated by the Nexus project.

The Urban Nexus is a regional project implemented by GIZ and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It adheres to the principle of holistic or integrated urban planning with focus on water, energy, and food (land use) sectors. The nexus approach intends to promote “circular economy” approach where resources such as water, food, and energy, are used more efficiently and effectively. ICLEI SEAS serves as implementation partner in the Philippines and Indonesia.