Press Release | 2 October 2024
On September 27, 2024, following reports from Barangay Blue Ridge A officials about six drumloads of busted fluorescent lamps stockpiled since 2018, the Quezon City Department of Sanitation and Cleanup Works (DSQC) collected the hazardous waste for proper disposal.
In response, toxic and waste watchdog BAN Toxics expressed appreciation for the local government’s efforts, urging the DSQC to extend similar inspections to other barangays in the city to check for potential stockpiles of hazardous waste.
On September 6, 2024, BAN Toxics inspected the busted lamps in Blue Ridge A and discovered mercury leakage. The group informed the barangay officials about the dangers of mercury exposure and provided guidance on how to address the issue, to which the officials promptly responded by coordinating with the DSQC.
In a Viber message to BAN Toxics yesterday, Brgy. Councilor Rona Dumlao expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much for your help, assistance, and for orienting us on the hazards and urgency of the issue.”
Under Republic Act 6969, or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, busted fluorescent lamps are classified as hazardous waste due to their mercury content.
Section 5 of Quezon City Ordinance 2350-2014, meanwhile, states that busted fluorescent lamps and spent batteries from “households, government, and public institutions shall be separated from domestic wastes” and “shall be brought to the Barangay MRF for temporary storage until collection by the city-contracted hazardous waste collector/transporter/treater.”
“We thank the officials of Brgy. Blue Ridge A for giving us the opportunity to assist with this issue. We encourage them to reach out to us again for any toxic chemicals and waste-related issues, and this offer extends to other LGUs and communities as well,” said Thony Dizon, BAN Toxics Campaign and Advocacy Officer.