CAPAS, Tarlac — Residents in a farming village here expressed fear for their health because of a waste processing plant that emits black smoke with foul odor from its facilities allegedly causing health problems to residents of surrounding communities.
This was revealed to the media based in Central Luzon by complaining residents of Capas who declined to be named for fear of their safety.
“The black smoke being released in the air from the chamber of the waste processing plant emits a foul and obnoxious smell. We have been experiencing health problems since the plant started its operation,” the residents said.
A source, who resides just a few meters away from the Clean Leaf International Corporation’s waste processing plant, said most of the residents have filed formal appeals and complaints at the Barangay Hall in a bid to put a stop to the plant’s operations in their area but failed.
“We have filed complaints against Clean Leaf but our plight landed on deaf ears of our barangay officials,” another resident said while pointing to a thick black smoke coming from the plant’s stack.
In their complaints posted on social media, one resident stated that Clean Leaf allegedly operates at midnight up to 3 a.m. It releases black smoke from its chamber only during the wee hours of the morning to avoid being detected by local authorities.
“We have been experiencing difficulties in breathing especially the elders who were gasping for air each time Clean Leaf releases the smoke which spreads rapidly within the community,” said the source whose livelihood have been greatly affected due to air pollution.
He added that some residents have to cover their noses with a piece of wet cloth to avoid inhaling what they alleged was “poisonous” smoke.
Inhabitants of surrounding communities including Barangay Cutcut ll and nearby Bgy Anupul in Bamban town turned to social media hoping their plight will reach the office of the local government unit.
The source also pointed to a lagoon situated inside the Clean Leaf compound, that may have aggravated the obnoxious smell being experienced not only by residents but also other people visiting the community.
“Sumasakit po ang sikmura ng mga taong nakalalanghap ng mabahong amoy (those who inhale the foul smell experience stomach problems) and we’re not going to wait for a member of the family to suffer health problems because of air pollution,” the source pointed out.
Hazardous wastes collected from different industrial plants inside Clark and other areas in Central Luzon and even Metro Manila are being transported to the Clean Leaf waste facilities for processing.
Residents noted that trucks carrying hazardous waste have been crisscrossing the roads since the waste disposal plant started its operations, informed sources said.
Meanwhile, the local government unit accused of not acting on their constituent’s complaints regarding the existence of the waste treatment facility strongly denied the accusation.
It was learned that the local government has already suspended the operations of the waste processing plant of Clean Leaf since last September due to health risks it poses to residents and surrounding communities.
Capas Mayor Rey Catacutan said that when he received the complaints from residents in September, he quickly called the management of Clean Leaf and directed them to shut down their operations due to mounting complaints of residents there.
He said Clean Leaf ceased its operations since October and it would be “impossible” for residents to experience foul smells from the plant. The suspension order was covered by Executive Order 97 Series of 2020 issued by the mayor three months ago.
The company has not responded to queries of media regarding the complaints and for them to issue a statement.
Catacutan said the Capas LGU environmental officer conducted an inspection at Clean Leaf as early as September, or shortly after the mayor received complaints against the waste treatment plant.
A technical investigation team was also sent to Clean Leaf to determine its waste treatment procedure of hazardous substances sent to the plant.
“I ordered the waste processing plant management to cover the lagoon with sand to trap the fumes being emitted by it,” said Catacutan, while flashing the suspension order he issued to Clean Leaf last September in a press briefing.
The local chief executive said it is impossible for residents at Cutcut to experience foul smell as the plant’s exhaust chamber is more than 40 feet high and the smoke released to the air is already processed and filtered.
“It’s impossible for them to inhale foul smell. The stack is high and the smoke that is being released are already processed,” Catacutan pointed out.
He added that the lagoon and chamber of Clean Leaf is situated some 1.5 kilometers away from residential areas. “It’s hard to believe, but nevertheless i have ordered the suspension of its operations,” he said.
Catacutan noted that Clean Leaf was to able secure a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the construction and expansion of its sanitary landfill within the waste processing facility.
It was also learned that the Central Luzon regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environmental Management Bureau 3 (DENR-EMB 3) issued a permit to operate to Clean Leaf International Corporation. It was signed by Raldy Pagador, officer-in-charge of the Clearance and Permits Division.
Clean Leaf also secured an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the DENR3 headed by Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno.