An environmental group is urging authorities to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into a massive trash slide at the Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill (RPSL) that killed at least one person and left two others missing on 20 February 2026.

The nongovernment organization BAN Toxics, which advocates for a toxic-free environment, said the collapse of 420,000 cubic meters of waste warrants a full review of the facility’s compliance with environmental and safety standards.

The group also said residents and waste workers fear more people may have been buried than reported by the Montalban Disaster Risk Reduction Office. They alleged that company marshals prioritized retrieving heavy equipment over rescuing victims and offered money to families to leave possible remains in the waste.

BAN Toxics stressed the need to verify reported deaths and injuries, provide immediate support to affected families, end intimidation of residents and waste workers seeking accountability, and ensure full transparency to prevent future disasters.

The RPSL is operated by International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist, Inc. (ISWIMS) through its subsidiary Green Leap Solid Waste Management, Inc. ISWIMS, which also runs a landfill in San Mateo, Rizal, faced a Senate inquiry in 2024 over alleged labor violations in Quezon City.

Thony Dizon, BAN Toxics advocacy and campaign officer, said informal waste workers and scavengers must be formally recognized and protected to ensure their occupational safety, rights, access to protective equipment, social protection, and compensation funds during disasters.

“Despite being on the frontlines of waste management and exposed to toxic chemicals, they remain neglected,” Dizon said.

Dizon added that the 20 February slide adds to RPSL’s history of incidents, including six previous collapses, a fire in April 2025, and seasonal leachate floods. On 24 February 2026, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) suspended operations in the landfill’s Phase 5, covering around six hectares.

BAN Toxics is calling for a comprehensive assessment of all landfills, both private and government-owned, to ensure regulatory compliance and protect workers and nearby communities from environmental and health hazards.

Dizon also noted that the recent disaster recalls past tragedies, including the deadly Payatas collapse in 2000 that killed more than 200 people, and the January 2026 Binaliw Landfill slide in Cebu City that left 36 dead and 18 injured.