Manila: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), is advocating for the integration and social inclusion of informal waste workers into the country's solid waste management framework.
According to Philippines News Agency, Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla emphasized the essential role of informal waste workers in society, highlighting their critical yet frequently overlooked contributions to waste recovery and recycling. Lotilla pointed out that despite their indispensable work forming the backbone of a supply chain that promotes environmental sustainability, these workers remain excluded from the solid waste management value chain.
Lotilla noted that the sector, comprising waste pickers, itinerant buyers, and small junk shop operators, lacks workplace protections, stable income, and access to social services. He stressed the necessity of forming stronger partnerships to transform environmental objectives into tangible outcomes benefiting all sectors, ecosystems, and communities.
The DENR-EMB revealed plans to enhance waste recovery and recycling operations by providing weighing scales to 50 junk shops in Quezon City and connecting them with larger markets and enterprises aligned with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act. Additionally, training programs in organizational development, business planning, and financial literacy are set to be offered to promote sustainable livelihoods.
In 2024, lectures were provided to around 200 informal waste workers in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon to increase their understanding of the EPR Act of 2022 and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. These sessions also emphasized their crucial role in helping producers meet recycling targets.
To formalize this initiative, the National Solid Waste Management Commission issued Resolution 1655, Series of 2024, mandating local government units to incorporate programs for informal waste workers into their ten-year solid waste management plans. The DENR-EMB highlighted that many informal waste workers face health risks due to exposure to hazardous materials but remain excluded from social welfare benefits and stable income opportunities.
The EMB also acknowledged that local governments are still grappling with solid waste management challenges due to inadequate infrastructure, the prevalence of single-use plastics, and limited access to sanitary landfills. By focusing on the well-being of informal waste workers, the DENR-EMB aims to establish a waste management system that is both environmentally sustainable and socially equitable, ensuring support for those who significantly contribute to waste recovery and recycling.
