Cebu City halts garbage collection after Binaliw landfill collapse

Cebu City residents have been advised to temporarily refrain from disposing of their household waste as garbage collection operations remain suspended following the collapse of the Binaliw landfill, which left city-owned garbage trucks with no available site to unload collected trash.

Councilor Joel Garganera said on Friday, January 9, that all garbage trucks were already full after dumping operations at the Binaliw landfill were halted, prompting the city to stop waste collection to avoid worsening traffic congestion and interfering with ongoing rescue operations at the site.

“Karon ang mga garbage trucks nato puno og basura. Ayaw intawn ipagawas ang mga basura karong adlawa kay walay mo-collecta kay tanang trucks puno,” Garganera said in an interview with CDN Digital.

He said the Department of Public Services (DPS) assessed the situation as early as 5 a.m. and recommended that all barangays and private contractors be instructed not to bring garbage to the Binaliw landfill.

“Mao bitaw nga gi-instruct nato ang tanang barangays ug private contractors nga dili na mo-itsa didto kay maka-add ra na sa traffic ug maglisod ang atong responders,” Garganera said.

At present, Garganera said, all collected waste remains loaded in garbage trucks, as the city has yet to finalize an alternative disposal site.

“Tanang basura ron naa pa sa mga trucks. Asa man ta mulabay nga wala pa man? Hopefully, maka-come up ug solution ang atong mayor together with the stakeholders,” he said.

Garbage dumping operations at the Binaliw landfill were suspended after a landslide struck the facility on Thursday afternoon, January 8.

The Liga ng mga Barangay–Cebu City earlier advised barangays and other concerned parties to temporarily halt waste disposal at the site while rescue operations and safety assessments continue.

Garganera said city officials were holding emergency meetings to identify interim solutions, including the use of alternative landfill sites and temporary waste-handling facilities.

“Karon nag-meeting ang atong mga stakeholders, ang city administrator ug ang mayor, aron mag-identify og LGUs nga naay kahimanan sama sa landfill,” he said.

He said the city has identified three possible landfill options—two in southern Cebu and one in northern Cebu—but declined to name the locations, citing potential opposition from host local government units.

The city is also considering the establishment of a temporary waste transfer station within the South Road Properties (SRP) under the management of the DPS to help address logistical challenges.

“Lisod kaayo if layo kaayo ang kalabayan kay dili ka cope ang turnaround sa atong garbage trucks. Mas maayo gyud nga naa tay transfer station,” Garganera said, adding that the city may tap a private service provider to haul waste from the transfer station to a final disposal site.

However, he emphasized that the proposal remains under discussion and that its implementation would depend on decisions to be made by city officials later in the day.

“The temporary setup sa DPS is still an idea. As to implementation, that will depend today,” he said.

The Binaliw landfill collapse occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday after residents reported ground-shaking sounds initially believed to have been caused by a vehicle.

A large portion of the landfill later gave way, burying workers under garbage, steel trusses, and office structures at the facility operated by Prime Waste Solutions Cebu.