EcoWaste Coalition Denounces WtE Push in 2026 SONA, Urges Compliance with RA 9003

• The EcoWaste Coalition (EWC) is opposing President Bongbong Marcos’ (PBBM) plan to amend the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) to include waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration.
• Environmental advocates argue that WtE technologies pose severe health risks, including cancer and respiratory issues, due to toxic emissions.
• Critics assert that WtE violates the Paris Agreement by generating greenhouse gases and incentivizing plastic waste production.

Concerns and Impacts

• Human Rights and Health: Exposure to WtE emissions threatens the right to a healthy environment and endangers local communities through toxic pollutants.
• Livelihoods: Incineration facilities threaten the jobs of informal waste workers and recyclers, who rely on traditional waste management and resource recovery.
• Climate Goals: WtE contradicts global climate commitments, as it requires a continuous supply of waste and heat, thereby encouraging non-sustainable production cycles.

Proposed Alternatives

• Full Implementation of RA 9003: Groups like the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) urge the government to scale up existing zero-waste, circular economy measures.
• Community-Centric Solutions: Advocates call for investments in composting, resource recovery, and policies that mandate waste segregation and reuse.
• Policy Reforms: EWC suggests strengthening existing laws by banning single-use plastics and non-environmentally acceptable products instead of turning to incineration.