The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued a cease-and-desist order against Green Leap Solid Waste Management Inc. following a trash slide at its sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal that left one person dead and two others missing.

The order was issued Tuesday by the Environmental Management Bureau–Calabarzon for the company’s six-hectare landfill in Barangay San Isidro.

The trash slide initially sparked concern among urban poor groups after reports claimed that between 50 and 100 waste workers were missing. Authorities from the International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Incorporation and the Rodriguez municipal government later clarified that only three waste workers were reported missing.

Based on a statement from the local government on Sunday, it has been coordinating with the private landfill operator to locate the missing workers.

Investigations by the DENR-EMB Calabarzon found that around 420,000 cubic meters of trash were displaced due to erosion at the site.

The agency also noted multiple violations of the Environmental Compliance Certificate issued to the company.

Under the directive of Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria, operations in Phase 5 of the landfill — where the incident occurred — have been ordered halted.

The DENR also enforced a no-entry policy in the affected area to prevent interference with ongoing rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

“Our priority is to ensure the immediate stabilization of the site to prevent further environmental degradation and to hold the proponent strictly accountable for these operational lapses,” Tamoria said.

Green Leap has been directed to submit a detailed report on the measures it has taken to address the incident. The report will be presented during a technical conference scheduled for 25 February at 10 a.m.