Isko: Longer hauling distances drive up Manila garbage costs

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said the closure of the Navotas landfill and the transfer of waste disposal operations to San Mateo, Rizal have significantly increased garbage hauling distances, resulting in higher collection costs for the city.

Moreno said garbage collected in Manila is first brought to Vitas before being loaded onto trucks bound for San Mateo, Rizal.

Following a directive from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the mayor said garbage trucks that previously traveled about 10 kilometers to disposal sites are now required to cover nearly 30 kilometers—an increase of roughly 200 percent in hauling distance.

He said the longer travel time has driven up fuel expenses, operational costs, and logistical challenges, putting added strain on the city’s waste collection system.

Moreno said these added costs were among the key reasons behind the increase in garbage fees imposed on business establishments in Manila. He appealed for understanding from the business sector and stressed the need for cooperation to keep the city clean and orderly despite the challenges posed by the new waste disposal arrangement.

On Monday, 19 January, the mayor said rising garbage collection costs prompted the city government to raise garbage fees starting this year. He noted that the last adjustment to garbage collection fees was made in 2013, making the increase in 2026 necessary to reflect the actual cost of waste collection and disposal.

Moreno said several factors contributed to higher expenses, including the nearly doubled volume of garbage generated in the city, rising fuel prices, increased wages of garbage collectors, longer hauling distances to the San Mateo landfill, and outstanding commercial obligations left by the previous administration.

He said the decision to raise garbage fees was difficult but necessary to address the city government’s financial challenges.