Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Code on Sanitation (Refuse Disposal)

Scope and Definitions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Refuse Disposal

These implementing rules and regulations apply to a comprehensive set of entities including all occupants, owners, tenants, and lessees of buildings and dwelling houses. They further extend to owners or operators of industrial, commercial, and business establishments, local government units, government agencies, government-owned or controlled corporations, private firms, institutions, refuse collectors, disposal area operators, junk dealers, scavengers, and any other persons or entities involved in the generation, accumulation, storage, collection, transportation, processing, treatment, utilization, or disposal of refuse and other waste matter under the authority of the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines (P.D. 856).

Agricultural Waste is defined as waste generated from planting or harvesting crops, trimming or pruning plants, and waste or runoff materials from farms or fields. Ashes refers to the residue remaining after the burning of wood, coal, or other solid combustible materials. Biodegradable Waste includes any material that can be reduced into finer particles or decomposed by microbiological organisms or enzymes.

Chemical Waste comprises discarded solid, liquid, and gaseous chemicals, which may be classified as hazardous or non-hazardous. Hazardous chemical waste is identified if it is toxic, corrosive (defined as having a pH < 2 for acids or a pH > 12 for bases), flammable, reactive (such as explosives, water-reactive, or shock-sensitive substances), or genotoxic (carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, or otherwise genetic-altering). Non-hazardous chemical waste consists of chemicals not meeting these specific criteria.

Commercial Refuse results from the use or occupation of commercial or business establishments other than manufacturing processes. Composting is the biological degradation of biodegradable waste like food, garden, animal, or human waste under controlled conditions to produce humus or soil enhancer. Aerobic Composting occurs in the presence of oxygen at temperatures beyond $60\,^\circ C$ for a specific duration, while Anaerobic Composting occurs in the absence of oxygen.

Contamination is the presence of pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, suspended air emissions, chemicals, and pollutants in an inanimate article or substance. The Department refers to the Department of Health. A Disposal Area is any site or structure intended for refuse disposal. Domestic Refuse is specifically waste from households. Ecological Waste Management is a handling method permitting sanitary retrieval, reuse, or recycling without environmental degradation.

Garbage refers to rejected food constituents produced during preparation, cooking, or storage. Garden Refuse includes waste from cutting grasses, trees, bushes, and similar materials. General Waste is domestic-type waste not requiring special handling. Hazardous Waste is waste potentially dangerous to health and the environment due to reactivity, flammability, or explosiveness. Health Care Facilities include clinics, hospitals, and laboratories. A Health Certificate is a written certification issued by a city or municipal health officer after medical examination and immunization.

Incineration is the controlled burning of combustible wastes into gases and residues. Industrial Refuse includes solid wastes from manufacturing like food processing waste, boiler house cinders, and plastic or metal scraps. Infectious Waste includes laboratory cultures, surgery or autopsy waste from infectious patients, and waste from hemodialysis or inoculated animals. A Junk Dealer is any entity engaged in collecting, sorting, and selling waste or rubbish such as rags, paper, bottles, and old motor parts.

Night Soil is refuse composed of human excrement, including contents from septic tanks and latrines, excluding properly digested and dried sewage sludge from public plants. Non-biodegradable Waste refers to non-compostable and non-putrescible materials. Offal includes animal by-products and organs other than meat. An Open Dumpsite is a site where waste is exposed in the open. Operating Permits are certifications from the regional health office for refuse systems, while Sanitary Permits are issued by local health officers to establishments meeting minimum requirements.

Pathological Waste includes tissues, organs, fetuses, and animal carcasses. Pharmaceutical Waste includes expired or contaminated drugs. Pressurized Cans or Containers include aerosol containers that may explode. Radioactive Waste is waste contaminated with radioactivity from sources like nuclear medicine or power plants. Recyclable Waste is material retrievable for reuse as feeds, fuel, or crafts. Refuse or Solid Waste represents all organic and inorganic non-liquid, non-gaseous portions of waste except body waste. Refuse Disposal is the final discarding of non-recyclable materials. Refuse Management is the integrated approach to the waste life cycle.

Rubbish refers to non-putrescible waste like paper, tin cans, glass, and plastics. A Sanitary Engineer is a professional registered under Republic Act 1364. A Sanitary Landfill is an engineered disposal method involving thin layers, compaction, and daily cover. Sanitation Inspectors are government officers enforcing sanitary rules. Scavengers are persons contracted for the collection of recyclable refuse. Sharps include needles, syringes, scalpels, and broken glass. Swill is edible garbage having food value for animals. Vermin refers to insects like flies and mosquitoes or small animals like rats that are disease vectors.

General Operating and Sanitary Permit Requirements

Any person, corporation, local government unit, or institution operating a refuse collection service or a refuse disposal area and facility must secure an operating permit from the regional health office. Applications must include a letter of application, project description, locational plan, and technical specifications of facilities. The regional health office, through a sanitary engineer, conducts site validation before issuance. Permits may be revoked for violations. Exemptions from the operating permit (though registration is still required) include establishments operating internal collection for public disposal, farm owners disposing on-site, occupants transporting their own household waste to public areas, junk dealers, scavengers, swine feeding platform operators, and domestic garbage grinder users.

No entity may operate a refuse collection service, disposal area, junk dealership, or swine feeding platform without a sanitary permit from the local health officer. New permits are required for any construction extensions or alterations. Permits must be renewed annually at the beginning of the year and are valid until the last day of December. They must be posted in a conspicuous location. If ownership changes, the new owner must apply for noting within $14$ working days. Localities must maintain records of all permits, including the holder's name, nature of business, renewal dates, management changes, and revocation status.

Standards for Segregation, Storage, and Collection of Refuse

Establishments must provide separate containers for each waste type. Containers must be marked with bold letters $5\,cm$ in height or color-coded. Standard colors are: Black for non-biodegradable general waste; Green for biodegradable general waste; Yellow for infectious and pathological waste; Orange for radioactive waste; Red for sharps and pressurized containers; and Yellow with a black band for chemical waste. Containers should hold $2$ to $3$ days of waste volume and must have tight-fitting hinged lids. Containers exceeding $38\,kg$ ($10\,gallons$) must have handles or rollers. Ashes must be stored in plastic or metal containers with covers. Tree trimmings up to $1.20\,m$ in length may be bundled for collection.

Refuse collection services require both operating and sanitary permits. Drivers and collectors must possess up-to-date health certificates, which must be attached to their garments while working and renewed annually. They must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and receive orientation on color-coding and handling. Collectors are prohibited from collecting unsorted waste. During operation, they must handle containers with care to prevent denting or damage and ensure no spilled refuse is left behind. Spilled contents and materials falling from vehicles must be cleared immediately. The public is encouraged to report violations by recording vehicle plate numbers and incident times.

Sanitary Requirements for Refuse Transportation

All vehicles used for transporting refuse must be approved by the local health officer. Vehicles should ideally have two compartments: one painted green for biodegradable waste and one painted black for non-biodegradable waste. Vehicles with compactors must only compact non-biodegradable wastes. Hauling bodies must be constructed of metal or have metal linings, with smooth joints to prevent liquid leakage. Vehicles must have tight metal hoods with loading doors or be covered with heavy tarpaulins secured with ropes. Vehicles without permanent covers cannot be loaded above the sidewall height.

Maintenance standards require vehicles to be kept well-painted and clean. They must be washed and disinfected at least once a week or more often to prevent odors. Vehicles must be disinfected before being used for any other purpose. Wash bay areas require approval. Every vehicle must display the name, logo, and telephone number of the contractor in letters at least $10\,cm$ ($4\,inches$) high. Loading must be done cautiously to ensure no material swings off or jars loose while in motion, with loose paper secured against wind dispersal.

Sanitary Landfills, Processing Technologies, and Garbage Grinders

Sanitary landfills must secure both operating and sanitary permits. No dwelling unit is permitted within $200\,m$ of any portion of the landfill premises. No person may use the disposal area for living or sleeping, except for authorized guards in designated resting areas. Drainage from the site must be handled as sewage in accordance with Chapter XVII of P.D. 856. Sites must be accessible via hard-surfaced roads. Fire protection requires water supply of at least $32\,L/s$ at $276\,Kpa$ ($500\,gpm$ at $40\,psi$) and one mobile foam extinguisher or fire truck.

Refuse must be covered within $24$ hours of arrival with a soil layer at least $15\,cm$ ($6\,inches$) thick. Cover materials must be placed so that no cracks appear within $6\,months$. Necessary equipment like bulldozers and compactors must be maintained on-site. Records of waste sources and monthly tonnage must be kept. A vermin abatement program is mandatory. Open dumps, open burning, and dumping into bodies of water are strictly prohibited. Other technologies like incineration, microwave, or autoclave treatment require special operating permits and compliance with national laws.

Domestic garbage grinders are permitted only if street sewers are at least $20\,cm$ ($8\,inches$) in diameter. Design requirements include a $2\%$ increase in flow capacity, a $25\%$ increase in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) loading for filter treatment, and a septic tank sludge capacity increase of $0.23\,kg$ ($0.50\,pound$) dry solids per capita per day. Waste must be macerated to pass through a number 16 ($1/16\,inch$) wire mesh screen.

Resource Recovery and Animal Feeding Regulations

Refuse must be sorted for various purposes: Factory Returnables (metals, glass, plastics); Feed Materials (food waste for animals); Fermentables (fruit peelings for vinegar/wine); Fertilizer Materials (compostables/human and animal waste); Filling Materials (compacted materials for construction or stuffing); and Fuel Materials (sawdust, rice hulls). Burying is allowed only for temporary household/camp control for biodegradable waste at depths no less than $1\,m$. Hog feeding of leftover food is allowed only if cooked at $100\,^\circ C$ for $30\,minutes$.

Recovered materials like bottles or textiles must be disinfected before reuse. Junk dealers must maintain premises to prevent vermin harborage, with aisles at least $1.20\,m$ wide. Exterior premises must be enclosed by a tight fence. Secondhand glassware must be disinfected according to Chapter III standards. Food waste retrieval for human consumption is forbidden if guidelines are not met; carcasses of animals not slaughtered for food cannot be sold for consumption.

Evaluation, Inspection, and Penal Provisions

Local health officers must evaluate refuse services at least once every $3\,months$. Inspectors must have a Mission Order and wear a prescribed uniform with ID. Inspection ratings are calculated as: $100 - (\text{number of demerits} \times 5)$. Standards are: Excellent (90-100%, Luminous Green); Very Satisfactory (70-89%, Luminous Yellow); and Satisfactory (50-69%, Luminous Red). Ratings below 50% are not specified but fall below standards. Sanitation Standard Rating Stickers (SSRS) must be updated quarterly.

If non-compliance is found, a sanitary order is issued with a grace period. Failure to comply can lead to a second order, a notice of hearing, and eventually the revocation of the sanitary permit. Health officers can recommend summary suspension if conditions pose a substantial hazard. Power of entry is granted to authorized officers at all reasonable times. Decisions by the local health authority are final and executory.

Violations of these regulations are considered misdemeanors, punishable by Zen imprisonment not exceeding $6\,months$, a fine not exceeding $Php\,1,000.00$, or both. Hindering DOH officers or defacing placards is subject to the same penalties. These rules, approved April 15, 1998, by Secretary of Health Carmencita Noriega-Reodica, took effect $15\,days$ after publication on May 12, 1998, in the Manila Standard.

Responsibilities of Participants in Refuse Management

Owners and occupants must keep premises clean, provide containers, and prevent vermin. They are prohibited from burning waste, burying it in non-designated areas, or throwing it into sewers. Vacant lot owners must keep lots clean; otherwise, the LGU will clean them at the owner's expense. Refuse collectors must provide residential service at least twice a week and daily service for public markets and health clinics. They must use PPE and ensure no spillage. The Regional Director issues operating permits and monitors services. Local Government Units (LGUs) must provide collection systems, allocate land for disposal, and establish buying stations for recyclables.

Acknowledgements and Contributing Entities

The Department of Health acknowledges Dr. Mario C. Villaverde and Engr. Victor V. Sabandeja for their leadership. Technical staff included Engr. Antonio A. Hormillosa, Engr. John C. Foz, Engr. Luis F. Cruz, Engr. Reynante C. Francisco, Engr. Pamela A. Mogol, and Engr. Joselito M. Riego de Dios. Other contributors included the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, DPWH, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Metro Manila Development Authority, and various local health offices from regions like Sultan Kudarat, Baguio City, and Zamboanga City. Healthcare institutions like Makati Medical Center and University of Santo Tomas Hospital also provided insights.