The City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) on Wednesday said waste generation in the communities here has been reduced to 48 percent.

Engr. Armen Cuenca, Clenro chief, said that based on the three-year monitoring in the city, household waste generated daily was reduced from 0.76 kilo to 0.36 kilo by the end of 2020.

“Latest Philippine Statistics Authority data shows that the city has a total of 776,641 population, this means that our city has now a total of 279,591 kilos waste generation from its 590,247 kilos generated from the past three years,” he said.

He said the wastes were disposed of daily at the city’s new 45-hectare sanitary landfill located at the upland village of Pagalungan that opened on April 15, 2017.

Last year, Cuenca said their campaign on banning single-use plastics has resulted in fewer clogs in creeks and canals in the city.

Meanwhile, the former 17-hectare open dumpsite is now converted into an Eco Park. Its Phase 1 is almost completed and about to open next month. The park has bike and jogging lanes, rotunda, and amphitheater.

Cuenca said his office collaborates with some non-government organizations for other Solid Waste Management projects, like the Zero Waste Plastic program in partnership with the Philippine Ports Authority for the Macabalan Port here.