Bacolod City is embarking on a six-month waste analysis and characterization study (WACS) as part of the broader efforts to strengthen its long-term waste management program.
Partnering with leading professional services firm SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.), the city government has allocated P3.75 million for the conduct of the study aimed at updating Bacolod’s 10-year solid waste management plan.
Secretary to the Mayor Marty Go said the study is expected to run for 180 days or six months, after the signing of the formal agreement between Mayor Greg Gasataya and SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services partner Katrina Francisco last week.
“Based on the timeline, it will [be completed] by early December,” he said in an interview.
SGV will provide technical expertise to ensure that the updated solid waste management plan is based on accurate data and tailored specifically to the city’s needs.
Based on the agreement, the study will gather critical information on the types and volume of waste produced daily in the city and will also project future waste generation trends and recommend ways to improve waste collection, recycling, composting, and disposal systems.
Gasataya said the project aims to deepen understanding of the city’s waste situation, including composition, volume, and projected growth, to develop smarter and more sustainable solutions.
“This study will help us clearly understand how much waste Bacolod produces and what steps we need to take to improve our waste management systems and policies,” he added in a statement.
Francisco said more than just a study, the project is a crucial step toward transforming how Bacolod manages its waste.
“This will help the city create solutions that are not only environmentally sound but also economically sustainable,” she added.
Data from the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office show the city generates a daily waste collection of 1,700 to 2,500 cubic meters, all being disposed of at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa. (PNA)