23 February 2026, Quezon City — Weeks after the Binaliw landfill tragedy, which claimed 36 lives, another trash slide incident happened in Rodriguez, Rizal. Reports claim that there are at least three individuals missing[1] since a portion of the landfill collapsed last Friday afternoon. As of writing, rescue and retrieval operations by local government agencies are still ongoing.
Reacting to this, Greenpeace Campaigner Marian Ledesma said:
“These are not accidents. We’re seeing the same tragedies and problems recur despite being in different locations with different local governments and private firms involved.[2] The varied circumstances underscore the failure of our systems to address the waste crisis, rooted in the inaction of government at national and local levels, and the impunity of corporations responsible for driving waste volumes to surge.
“After tragedies like this in Payatas, Binaliw, and now Rizal, it is clear that we are failing to uphold the intent of our own laws. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) was designed around waste prevention, yet government action has largely focused on managing waste only after it is already generated. Reduction and reuse are acknowledged in policy, but they remain largely voluntary in nature. Without clear mandates and enforceable targets, prevention stays on paper while landfills continue to collapse.
“Nearly four years after the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act was passed, it has likewise failed to shift the system away from plastic overproduction. The law prioritizes waste recovery, but does not require companies to meaningfully cut plastic production or transition to reuse at scale. As long as corporations are allowed to produce more and simply recover a portion of it, tragedies like these will remain a recurring threat.
“Greenpeace is calling on the Philippine government to act urgently to address the waste and plastic pollution crises. The government must have a tougher stance on corporate accountability, requiring companies to cut down on plastics and disposable materials altogether. Legislators must amend the EPR Act to set clear targets for plastic reduction and establishment of reuse systems. RA 9003 must be fully implemented and meet its waste prevention objectives through single-use plastic bans, reuse systems, waste segregation, and a comprehensive non-environmentally acceptable products and packaging (NEAPP) list including disposable plastics.
“More importantly, corporations must be required to reduce plastic production and use, and begin a transition to refill and reuse systems. The government must mandate to prevent waste upstream before they end up in our communities, environment, and landfills. Without mandated corporate action, Filipinos are left to bear the burden and impacts of the waste crisis.
“The government must act now to address the waste and plastic crises before another tragedy comes crashing down on communities and the environment.”
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Note to the editor:
[1] 3 missing after landfill collapse in Rodriguez, Rizal | Philippine Daily Inquirer
[2] The Rizal site is operated by private firm International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist, Inc. (ISWIMS), the subject of a Senate inquiry back in 2024 for alleged labor rights violations involving waste workers in Quezon City. Prime Integrated Waste Solutions (PIWS) is the operator of the Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City. PIWS currently has a cease-and-desist order from the DENR following the deadly landslide on January 8, 2026.
For more information and interview requests, please contact:
James Relativo, Communications Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +63919 069 3424
