R.A.

9003
Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000
DENR-EMB-NCR, Solid Waste Management Section

REPUBLIC ACT 9003

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

First law signed by former President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo

Approved on January 26, 2001

Took Effect on February 16, 2001

Republic Act No. 9003

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act 2000

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM,
CREATING
THE
NECESSARY
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS AND INCENTIVES, DECLARING
CERTAIN ACTS PROHIBITED AND PROVIDING PENALTIES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

OBJECTIVE of the LAW

The over-all principle and objective of R.A. 9003 is that all
waste should be brought to where they can be resources
again - the recyclables to factories and the biodegradables
either used as animal feed or composted for soil
enhancement. Only materials that currently cannot be
composted or recycled should go to the landfills.

The implementing rules and regulations of R.A. No. 9003 are contained in DENR
Administrative Order No. 2001-34

Solid Waste
Discarded household
Nonhazardous
Institutional / Industrial waste
Street sweepings
Construction debris
Agricultural waste
Other nonhazardous/nontoxic

Classification of Waste
as defined by R.A. 9003
Compostables

Special Wastes

Recyclables

Residual / Non-recyclables

Salient features of R.A. No.

9003

Creation of the National Solid Waste Management Commission

(NSWMC), the National Ecology Center (NEC) and the Solid Waste
Management Board in every province, city and municipality in the
country.
Formulation of the National Solid Waste Management Framework;
10-year solid waste management plans by local government units
consistent with the National Solid Waste Management Framework;
Mandatory segregation of solid waste to be conducted primarily at
the source such as household, institutional, industrial, commercial
and agricultural sources;
Setting of minimum requirements to ensure systematic collection and
transport of wastes and the proper protection of the health of
garbage collectors;
Establishment of reclamation programs and buy-back centers for
recyclable and toxic materials;
Promotion of eco-labeling in local products and services;

Salient features of R.A. No.

9003

Prohibition on non-environmentally acceptable products and
packaging (NEAPP);

Establishment of Materials Recovery Facility in every barangay
or cluster of barangays;

Prohibition against the use of open dumps;

Setting of guidelines/criteria for the establishment of
controlled dumps and sanitary landfills;

Provision of rewards, incentives both fiscal and non-fiscal,
financial assistance, grants and the like to encourage LGUs and
the general public to undertake effective solid waste
management; and

Promotion of research on solid waste management and
environmental education in the formal and non-formal sectors.

INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM
(National Level)

The National Solid Waste Management Commission

(NSWMC)
Oversees the implementation of SWM plans
Prescribe policies to achieve the objectives of the
Act
Composed of 17 members:
14 members from the government sector
3 members from the private sector

NSWMC Members
(Government Sector-14)
1. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
2. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
3. Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
4. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
5. Department of Health (DOH)
6. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
7. Department of Agriculture (DA)
8. Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
9. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
10. Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
11. League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP)
12. League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP)
13. League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)
14. Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB)

NSWMC Members
(3 from the Private Sector)
1. A representative from the Recycling Industry
(Vice Chairman)
2. A representative from the Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs)
3. A representative from the Manufacturing or
Packaging Industry

(with DEP-ED as an Honorary Member)

Other agencies involved

in the campaign and implementation

of R.A. 9003











Local Government (city and municipality)

Department of Education
Commission on Higher Education
Office of the Press Secretary
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas
National Press Club
Philippine Press Institute
Philippine National Police
Department of National Defense
Philippine Coast Guard

INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE
National Solid Waste
Management Commission
(Policy Making)

DENR-EMB-NSWMC/S
(Technical Support
and Enforcement)

Ecological Solid Waste

Management Act

Local Government
Units
(Implementation)

Waste Generators/Citizens

LGU Solid Waste Management Plan

The solution to solid waste problem will vary from
one locality to another. The formulation of the
10year SWM Plan should take into consideration
the physical and socioeconomic conditions of the
concerned communities and be designed
according to their needs

Requirements for Segregation

& Volume Reduction
Separate containers for compostable,
recyclables, special wastes and residuals
Separate collection schedules / separate
trucks or haulers / compartmentalized
collection vehicles
MRFs for recyclables & Biodegradables
Inventory of markets for composts and
recyclables

Recycling Program
Environmentally preferable purchasing
Specifications, product description &
standards
Ecolabeling
Non-environmentally acceptable products
Reclamation programs and buyback centers

Business and Industry Role

 The Commission shall encourage commercial and industrial
establishments, through appropriate incentive other than tax
incentives to:
 initiate, participate and invest in integrated EWM Projects
 manufacture environment friendly products
 introduce, develop and adopt innovative processes
recycle and reuse materials
conserve raw materials and energy
reduce waste
prevent pollution
undertake community activities to promote and
propagate effective SWM practices

Prohibited Acts
Violation

Fines/Penalties

Littering, throwing and dumping of waste

matters in public places and water

P 300 P 1,000 or Community

service between 115 days

Open burning of solid waste

P 300 P 1,000 or
Imprisonment of 115 days

Collection and transport of non-segregated

or unsorted waste
Squatting in open dumpsite and landfills
Open dumping, burying of biodegradable &
non-biodegradable materials in flood prone
areas
Unauthorized removal of recyclable materials
for collection by authorized persons

P 300 up to P 1,000
or
imprisonment of 15 days
to 6 Months

Prohibited Acts
Violation

Fines/Penalties

Operation of open dumpsites

Manufacture, distribution or use of nonenvironmentally acceptable packaging
materials
Importation of consumer products
packaged in non-environmentally
acceptable materials
Importation of toxic wastes misrepresented as
recyclable or with recyclable content
Transportation and dumping in bulk of collected
domestic, industrial, commercial and institutional
wastes in areas other than centers or facilities
prescribed by law

P 500,000.00
or
Imprisonment of
1 to 3 years
P 10,000 P 200,000
or
Imprisonment of
30 day to 3 years

Prohibited Acts
Violation
Construction, expansion or operation of waste
management facilities without an
Environmental Compliance Certificate
Construction of any establishment within the
200 meters from open or controlled dump
sites and sanitary landfills
Construction or operation of landfills or any
waste disposal facility within or near an
aquifer, groundwater reservoir or watershed

Fines/Penalties
P 100,000 P 1M
or
Imprisonment of
1 to 6 years