Iloilo City experienced a significant increase in waste during the holiday season, with volumes rising by 10 to 20 percent, according to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO). The surge was primarily attributed to unsold fruits and packaging materials. CENRO head Neil Ravena highlighted that much of the waste consisted of spoiled or overripe fruits, especially those used in traditional New Year displays like the 13 round fruits. In contrast, there was a noticeable decrease in firecracker debris this year, which Ravena attributed to successful campaigns by the Department of Health and the Philippine National Police against firecracker use. From December 24 to January 1, daily waste collection peaked at 480 tons, compared to the usual 400 tons. The waste breakdown showed that 60 percent was biodegradable, 20 percent was packaging materials like cartons and styrofoam, and 10 percent was firecracker remnants. To handle the increased waste, the city added three more garbage trucks to the fleet of a private contractor, concentrating efforts on busy areas such as the terminal market, JM Basa, Iznart, and Delgado streets. By January 1 morning, the main streets were cleared. Ravena encouraged residents to use designated disposal points and reduce their use of plastic trays and styrofoam to lessen the burden on landfills.
