Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Tuesday said the city’s garbage generation has dropped by at least 50 tons per day as more residents get involved in proper waste management.

“The city managed to bring down its daily residual wastes production from 250 tons in 2023 to 188 tons in 2024 or (an average of) 50-ton reduction,” the mayor said in a media interview on Tuesday.

The decreased generation translates to reduced expenses in hauling and tipping costs in transporting and processing waste to engineered sanitary landfill outside the city, he said.

Baguio transports the residual wastes generated by residents and the business sector to the engineered sanitary landfill facility in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, thus, the expenses.

Magalong said that aside from proactive waste management practices, the garbage volume reduction is also due to the fact that more residents are now practicing segregation at the household level.

The operation of a black soldier fly (BSF) facility since last year also contributed to the processing of food wastes generated at the city market and the central business district.

Several barangays have also initiated their own segregation schemes with more recyclables being recovered.

Magalong said the city is leading towards sustainability and resiliency to attain a livable, inclusive and creative status in 2043 amid the challenges of urban decay and climate change.

“We have undergone positive changes in the past years and this boosts the city’s thrust to fully transition from linear to circular economy where wastes are turned into useful materials instead of just ending up in the trash creating economic opportunities,” he shared.

Magalong said they launched the Baguio Circular Economy Program last week which is a significant breakthrough in the pursuit of a sustainable and resilient future.

“It is more than just an environmental initiative —it is a major and conscious shift in the way we manage our resources, minimize waste, and promote economic opportunities that are both innovative and responsible,” he added.

Magalong said the city intends to make it a way of life to realize a sustainable urban life for the benefit of the future generation.

Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda who heads the committee on Health and Environment and the author of the ordinance institutionalizing an “eco-waste sustainability fair”, said that slowly, more “basura” warriors are joining in the activities and contributing to the campaign to reduce, reuse, recycling, repurpose what are considered as garbage. (PNA)