Rodriguez, Rizal — A company, which owns and operates the sanitary landfill in this town, has violated environmental laws, and this was the reason a portion of the landfill wall collapsed last July 30.

This was the finding of a composite team of the Environment Management Bureau, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and the Region 4-A office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The team had earlier conducted an investigation of the wall collapse at the 19-hectare landfill located at Lukutan, Barangay San Isidro, this town.

A report on the findings was submitted last Aug. 20 by EMB Director Julian Amador to DENR Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza.

The members of the technical committee had met to discuss the measures that the landfill owner, International SWIMS (Solid Wastes and Integrated Management Specialist), should adopt and comply.

The team reported that SWIMS failed to comply with environmental laws. The violations, it said, include insufficient soil to cover the garbage, its slope is steep, insufficient embankment between cells, and no appropriate drainage canal.

In addition, the team said, the company allowed its toxic “garbage juice” to flow towards the river.  There was no trace of methane explosion as alleged by people living in the area.

Due to the findings, the Calabarzon 4-A office of EMB issued a notice of violation of PD 1686.

The technical committee recommended that SWIMS be made to comply with environmental laws and that sanctions be imposed by DENR on the company.

Last Aug. 14, the investigating team and SWIMS came up with an agreement that the latter should follow.

The landfill owner (SWIMS) should provide an emergency response plan or warning system and to transfer the tipping area into a stable area.