The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), has issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) against Green Leap Solid Waste Management Inc. over a trash slide at its sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal.
The CDO covers Phase 5 of the landfill, a six-hectare section in Barangay San Isidro, where about 420,000 cubic meters of waste reportedly collapsed from the active dumping area last week. The incident buried three heavy equipment units, left one person dead, and two others missing.
Following inspections, DENR investigators cited several operational lapses, including erosion in the active tipping area, exposed waste causing foul odor, and a visible crack in nearby waste piles that could trigger another collapse. The agency also reported multiple violations of the landfill’s Environmental Compliance Certificate.
Under the order, all operations in Phase 5 are suspended, except for emergency and corrective measures such as search and retrieval, slope stabilization, debris clearing, and installation of engineering controls to prevent further erosion. A strict no-entry policy has been enforced to protect the public and avoid disruption of rescue and rehabilitation work.
DENR officials said the priority is to stabilize the site and prevent further environmental damage while holding the company accountable. The landfill operator has been directed to transfer its active dumping operations to a safer area within the site to ensure continued waste management services without compromising safety.
Green Leap has five days to submit a detailed report and must present its corrective action plan at a technical conference scheduled on February 25, 2026. DENR warned that failure to attend would be treated as a waiver of the company’s right to be heard, allowing the agency to proceed with legal action based on available evidence.
The issuance of the CDO signals tighter enforcement of environmental regulations and underscores the government’s policy of prioritizing public safety and environmental protection in waste management operations.
