The recent tragedy at a Cebu landfill has drawn attention to the dangers of overfilled and poorly managed dumpsites, highlighting the limits of the country’s current waste disposal system.

The incident comes as the Philippines marks Zero Waste Month in January. Environmental advocates say landfills are vulnerable when waste reduction, segregation, and recovery are neglected. Both plastic and organic waste contribute to structural instability and generate methane when unmanaged.

The Villar Foundation in Las Piñas has long promoted community-based recycling programs aimed at reducing landfill volume. According to foundation data, roughly 80 percent of local waste is diverted. Kitchen and garden waste, which accounts for about half of household trash, is processed into organic fertilizer. About 15 percent of soft plastics, including sachets and packaging materials, are recycled into school chairs or sent to accredited facilities, while another 15 percent of paper is recovered for recycling.

"Landfills are filling up because we continue to treat waste as a problem instead of a resource,” said former Senator Cynthia Villar, managing director of the Villar Foundation. “What happened in Cebu is a reminder that we must act decisively. Zero Waste Month calls on all sectors to divert waste at the source—whether plastic, paper, kitchen, or garden waste—before it reaches landfills.”

The foundation distributes compost to urban gardens, community farms, and agricultural projects. Recycled plastics are turned into school chairs, each using about 20 kilograms of waste.

Las Piñas’ program has expanded nationwide, with 118 composting sites and three plastic recycling factories in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The programs also provide jobs in collection, segregation, and facility operations.

The Cebu tragedy highlights the risks posed by overfilled landfills and the need for stronger waste management practices. Experts say local recycling and proper segregation can reduce landfill dependence and limit environmental hazards.