From Waste to Renewable Energy: A Policy Review on Waste-to-Energy in the Philippines

Abstract

Solid waste management issues continue to pose challenges in the Philippines. The increasing generation of waste, coupled with a foreseen lack of infrastructure for disposal, inevitably leads to overflowing sanitary landfills laced with environmental and health issues. As a result, the Philippine government is placing emphasis on Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technology as an ideal and immediate solution to the waste problem. By reviewing past, current, and future government policies and conducting interviews, this paper comprehensively explores the Philippine policy framework regulating WtE. The analysis shows several policy gaps and concerns, which stem from the fundamental concept of treating waste as a renewable energy resource. As it stands, the current waste management framework puts heavy emphasis on waste minimization, while the renewable energy framework explicitly promotes WtE technologies. To address this conflict in policy goals, several policies are recommended that are grounded in clarifying the country’s stances on waste as a renewable energy resource and WtE’s role in the waste management hierarchy. With clear policies and regulations on WtE, this will boost its potential as a key driver not only in waste management but also in the country’s drive for renewable energy generation.