Republic of the Philippines

City of Iloilo

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD

EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 5TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE 34TH
SANGGUNIANG P ANLUNGSOD OF THE CITY OF ILOILO, PHILIPPINES, HELD AT
THE SESSION HALL, NEW CITY HALL BillLDING, PLAZA LIBERTAD, ILOILO CITY,
ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013.
PRESENT:
HON. JOSE S. ESPINOSA III
Vice Mayor and Presiding Officer
HON. LYNDON V. ACAP
HON.RODELF.AGADO
HON. JOSHUA C. ALIM
HON. LADY JULIE GRACE L. BAROND A
HON. R LEONE N. GEROCHI
HON. JASON R. GONZALES
HON. CARLOS P. GUARIN, LigangmgaBrgy. Pres.
HON. SHEEN MARIE S. MABILOG, SK Federation Pres.,
HON. PLARIDEL C. NAVA II
HON. ARMAND S. PARCON
HON. EDUARDO L. PENAREDONDO
HON. LIEZL JOY ZULUETA-SALAZAR
HON. JOSE EFRAIN G. TRENAS III
HON. NIELEX C. TUP AS

Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Ex Officio Member
Ex Officio Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member

ABSENT:
None.
REGULATION ORDINANCE NO. 2013-336

AN ORDINANCE ON THE PROPER DISPOSAL OF LAMP

WASTES CONTAINING MERCURY
Sponsored by Councilor Jason R. Gonzales, duly seconded by
Councilors Carlos P. Guarin, Lyndon V. Acap, Lady Julie
Grace L. Baronda and Armand S. Parcon
WHEREAS, the city recognizes that mercury containing lamps are among the most
widely used electric light sources found in homes, local businesses, offices, hospitals, schools,
stores, and buildings because these have energy efficiency and cost savings features. These
lamps especially compact fluorescent lamps use about one-fourth the energy required and last
about 5-10 times longer than energy intensive incandescent bulbs;
WHEREAS, these mercury containing lamps are toxic. When these lamps are broken,
compacted, crushed, or disposed off improperly, mercury is released into the air, water, and land,
posing significant threat to people and the environment.

Reg. Ord. No. 2013-336, Aug. 20, 2013

Page 2

WHEREAS, mercury and its compounds are highly toxic especially to the developing
nervous system, which is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. Exposure to high levels of
mercury can cause permanent brain damage, central nervous system disorders, memory loss,
heart disease, kidney failure, liver damage, vision loss, sensation loss, and tremors. Mercury is
also a suspected endocrine disruptor, which means it damages the reproductive and hormonal
development and growth of fetuses and infants. Human exposure to mercury can be through
inhalation, absorption, ingestion, and skin/eye contact;
WHEREAS, mercury bioaccumulates (higher concentrations in tissues of aquatic plants
and animals than in water), biomagnifies (higher concentrations at increasingly higher levels in
the food chain), and persists in the environment. Once in the atmosphere, mercury is widely
disseminated and can circulate for years, accounting for its widespread distribution;
WHEREAS, Sections 15 and 16 of Article II of the Philippine Constitution provide that
the "State shall protect the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them" and the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature";
WHEREAS, RA 6969, otherwise known as Toxic Substances and Hazardous and
Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, was passed into law with the goal of ensuring full
protection of the people's health and the environment from unreasonable risks posed by
industrial chemicals and chemical substances. The law provides the legal framework for the
country's program to control and manage the importation, manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, transport, treatment, and disposal of toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provision of Section 16 of RA 7160, otherwise known as the
Local Government Code of 1991, this Local Government Unit is mandated to promote health
and safety and enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology hence, it is committed to the
protection, preservation and conservation of the ecosystem within its jurisdiction.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of
Iloilo, in session duly assembled, that:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. - This ordinance shall be known as "Proper Disposal of

Lamp Wastes Containing Mercury Ordinance".
SECTION 2. OBJECTIVES. - The objective of this Ordinance is to ensure that proper
disposal of lamp wastes containing mercury is strictly implemented in accordance with national
laws to minimize hazards to human health and the environment from exposure to harmful
substances.
SECTION 3. APPLICABILITY. - The Ordinance shall be made applicable within the
entire territory and jurisdiction of the City of Iloilo and shall be implemented by City
Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

Reg. Ord. No. 2013-336, Aug. 20, 2013

Page 3

SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS. a. Lamp Waste - Also referred to as busted or spent lamps, are any type of mercurycontaining lamp that includes fluorescent, high and low-pressure sodium vapor lamp,
mercury vapor and metal halide lamps that are generated by a wide variety of generators
including domestic, retail establishments, manufacturing establishments, and office
buildings.
b. Disposal - Discharge, deposit, or placing of any lamp waste into its final disposition
with no intention of retrieval for the foreseeable future.
c. Landfill - Waste disposal site designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in a
manner that exerts engineering control over significant potential environmental impacts
arising from the development and operation of the facility.
d. Small Quantity Generators - Lamp waste generators with less than 300 lighting
fixtures or accumulate less than 100 pieces of busted mercury-containing lamps in a year.
This includes, but not limited to, households, small retail stores, and the like.
e. Large Quantity Generators - Lamp waste generators that have 300 or more lighting
fixtures or accumulate 100 pieces or more busted mercury-containing lamps in a year.

SECTION 5. PACKAGING AND LABELING OF LAMP WASTES FOR

DISPOSAL. For Large Quantity Generators:
a. A safe storage area should be designated to ensure that the lamps are not accidentally
broken or crushed before they are sent to a disposal facility.
b. If lamp wastes are placed into an accumulation container, the container needs to be
labeled as containing lamp wastes and should be capable of preventing mercury leakage
and release to the environment.
For Small Quantity Generators:
a. When a used lamp is removed and replaced with a new lamp, the used lamp should be
packaged and sealed in at least two plastics before putting it into the outside trash or other
protected outside location if proper disposal facilities are not yet available.

Reg. Ord. No. 2013-336, Aug. 20, 2013

Page 4

SECTION 6. DISPOSAL OF LAMP WASTES. a. Mercury-containing lamps should be disposed only in permitted hazardous waste landfill
or government-approved recovery facility. The disposal of hazardous lamp waste and
light bulbs in open or controlled dumps is prohibited.
b. Small-quantity waste generators may dispose lamp wastes in a city landfill provided the
landfill has a designated cell or facility for hazardous waste and is permitted and
registered by the EMB and the National Solid Waste Management Commission. Lastly,
only properly packaged lamp wastes may be permitted in hazardous waste landfills for
disposal.

SECTION 7. CRUSHING OF LAMPS. Crushing of lamps is permissible only under controlled conditions. The crushing system
must have the approval of the EMB, and the selected crushing method must be carefully
evaluated. The lamps must be crushed entirely inside a drum or storage unit so that no mercury
vapor is released into the environment. Adequate ventilation must be provided in the area where
the crushing occurs. Crushing area should be monitored to ensure compliance with applicable
exposure limits for mercury based on the Standards for Occupational Health and Safety.
Employees crushing lamps should be thoroughly familiar with proper waste mercury handling
and emergency procedures.
Moreover, crushed tubes should be stored in closed and non-leaking containers.
Intentional crushing of characteristically hazardous lamp waste - whether it is to physically
separate, reduce in volume, or facilitate for transportation, storage, or recovery - is considered
"pre-treatment" unless the crushing device is capable of completing the recycling process and
recovering the mercury as a product.

SECTION 8. COLLECTION OF LAMP WASTES BY LGUs. The Local Government Units (LGUs) by virtue of their authority under RA 9003 is
responsible for the collection of special hazardous wastes including lamp waste from persons,
households, and commercial establishments that qualify as small quantity generator. The LGUs
may enter into agreement with entities duly accredited and registered by the EMB for the
collection of special hazardous wastes. The LGUs should ensure that only EMB-accredited
hazardous waste collector, holding appropriate Hazardous Waste Registration ID are contracted
for the collection of lamp wastes from small quantity generators.
The LGUs are authorized to collect solid waste management fees, computed based on the
type and amount/volume of wastes, distance of transfer station to the waste management facility,
capacity or type of LGU, cost of construction, cost of management, and type of technology.
When the facilities are already available at the sanitary landfill a special collection will be
conducted by the garbage collector specifically for hazardous wastes covering mercury
containing substances

Page 5

Reg. Ord No. 2013-336, Aug. 20. 2013

With regards to other areas as possible drop-off points of these hazardous wastes, the
City should designate special collection points in different areas of the city for lamp wastes
containing mercury.

SECTION 9. PENALTIES. Any person or entity found to be violating the provisions of this ordinance shall be
imposed with the following penalties:
a. First Offense: A fine of two hundred pesos (PhP 200.00)
b. Second Offense: A fine of four hundred pesos (PhP 400.00)
c. Third and Succeeding Offenses: A fine of one thousand pesos (PhP 1,000.00)
If the violation is committed by a juridical person, the president, manager, person in
charge or representative of the same shall suffer the penalty prescribed herein.

Payments of the fine shall be made directly to the Office of the City Treasurer.

SECTION 10. REPEALING CLAUSE. - Any ordinance inconsistent herewith is

deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This ordinance shall take effect fifteen days
following its posting and publication in a local newspaper of general circulation.
ENACTED, August 20, 2013
I hereby certify to the correctness of the above quoted ordinance.

UTHH.ARROY
Seer tary to the Sangguman ~
ATTESTEDANDCERT IED
TO BE DULY ENACTED.

Cit
Ina ts

APPROVED:

E.MABILOG
City Mayor