The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) on Monday urged business firms here to carefully craft their Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as a requirement for the issuance of a solid waste management certificate.

In a radio interview, CENRO head Engr. Marivic Reyes said failure to abide by the SWMP will have consequential penalties for business owners.

Citing the city’s Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2009, Reyes said establishments must follow the system indicated within their SWMP, a copy of which will be kept by the CENRO as a reference for future inspections.

The plan must include segregation schematics, collection points, the disposal schedule, and other waste management details —all of which are geared at making sure that only residuals or unusable materials are collected by the CENRO.

“The purpose of the solid waste management plan is for them to manage their wastes. That is the only major requirement (to acquire the certificate,” Reyes said.

However, she clarified that the certificate is only required when applying for new business permits, and no longer required upon renewal.

Together with the penalty, she said violating businesses found violating their SWMP may have to re-apply for another certificate.

Reyes said measures on responsible waste management are being implemented even more stringently in the city due to the increasing volume of trash collected.

She noted that maintaining the daily average volume of collected trash within 600–700 tons is the critical indicator of the city’s waste management program. (PNA)