Manila City Council Mandates Waste Segregation, Introduces Collection Fees Starting 2027

MANILA, The Manila City Council has passed a sweeping new law that will fundamentally change how the city’s millions of residents manage their trash. The ‘Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2026,’ approved Tuesday, mandates strict waste segregation for all households and commercial establishments and introduces a new monthly collection fee to fund the system.

The measure, which passed following a lengthy debate, aims to bring the city into fuller compliance with national environmental laws, specifically Republic Act 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. For years, city officials have struggled with overflowing landfills and the high cost of hauling unsorted refuse. The new ordinance represents the most significant policy shift in the city's waste management strategy in over a decade, moving the onus for initial sorting from city facilities directly to the waste producers themselves.

New Bins, New Bills for Residents

For Manila residents, the changes will be felt both in their daily routines and on their utility bills. Beginning January 1, 2027, every household will be required to separate waste into three designated bins: one for biodegradable materials like food scraps, another for recyclables such as plastic, paper, and glass, and a third for residual waste. The City’s Department of Public Services is tasked with rolling out a public information campaign over the next six months to educate residents on the new system. Details regarding the provision or required purchase of the standardized, color-coded bins are expected to be released by October.

Alongside the new sorting rules, the ordinance establishes a waste management fee that will be added to monthly water or electricity bills. The exact amount will be based on a tiered system, with single-family homes paying a different rate than large commercial buildings. City officials project the fee will cover the costs of an upgraded collection fleet, the development of new materials recovery facilities, and the hiring of additional enforcement personnel. Failure to comply with the segregation rules will result in warnings, followed by fines for repeat offenders.

Following Other Metro Manila Cities

Manila is not the first local government unit in the National Capital Region to implement such a policy. The ordinance closely follows models established in other jurisdictions, most notably Quezon City, which has enforced a “no segregation, no collection” policy for several years. Proponents of the Manila ordinance point to the experiences of neighboring cities as evidence that such programs can significantly increase recycling rates and reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.

According to the text of the newly passed ordinance, the program’s primary goal is to divert at least 40% of the city’s solid waste from landfills by 2030. The revenue generated from the new fees is legally earmarked for the Solid Waste Management Fund and cannot be diverted for other city projects. The next step involves the executive branch, with the mayor’s office set to draft the specific implementing rules and regulations that will govern the fee structure and enforcement protocols. A final version of those rules is expected before the end of the year, ahead of the January 2027 rollout.