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Welcome, Eco-Explorers! This site is your essential primer for our upcoming trip to Zamboanga City's Sanitary Landfill. Our goal is to connect the dots between our everyday habits and the larger environmental picture.
By understanding where our trash goes and the challenges involved, we can empower ourselves to be part of the solution for a greener, more resilient Zamboanga City.
Tap or swipe to zoom the map and see the location of the Sanitary Landfill from the AdZU La Purisima Campus.
Where does the City's Trash Go?
Our city's Sanitary Landfill is located in Brgy. Salaan, about 9 to 10 km away from the city proper, and approximately 96 meters above sea level (above Barangays Lumbangan and Pasabolong). It serves as the primary disposal site for waste collected from several barangays and establishments, including Ateneo de Zamboanga University campuses.
A Google Earth view of the location shows that the facility is near residential houses (within 1 km) from its north to east side, including an elementary school.
A Mountain of Our Making: The Scale of Zamboanga City's Waste
A closer look at the facility reveals at least two hectares of what was once a forested area, now cleared to facilitate the collection of approximately 5,000 tons of garbage every month. This volume, equivalent to 10 to more than 20 truckloads a day, is based on data from the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR).
The facility, which opened in March 2015, has since transformed a once-rich vegetated area with numerous trees. It's now not only a source of health risks but also polluted air and water for the community. Furthermore, it's a significant contributor to combined carbon and methane gases, which warm the atmosphere.
A screenshot of satellite images of the area in 2009 and 2025 shared by the Ateneo Center for Environment and Sustainability (ACES).
A screenshot of satellite images of the area in 2022, shared by ACES.
Fast forward to 2022, the facility had to consume another 2 hectares of green space to accommodate the ever-growing waste of Zamboangueños. More trees and land will need to be converted into landfills until we learn to reduce our waste generation from homes to our workplaces.
What's In Our Trash?
What's In Our Trash?
The Sanitary Landfill is supposed to be a treatment facility only for residual waste. These are materials that are neither compostable nor reusable. While the treatment facility itself is already harmful in several ways, the challenges it brings become more complicated when it gets mixed with other waste types, such as biodegradables and recyclables. Take a look at the infographics below to see where each type of waste is supposed to go.
The Ripple Effect: Issues from Excessive Waste and Poor Segregation
The Ripple Effect: Issues from Excessive Waste and Poor Segregation
Excessive waste generation demands greater space, which will soon necessitate new, expensive disposal sites. Mixed wastes produce harmful, toxic liquid, known as leachate, that can contaminate soil and groundwater, threatening our water sources. The landfill in Salaan poses this exact threat to the nearby residential community through the leachate formed between Cell 2 and Cell 3. This toxic liquid has accumulated, creating a large, pond-like area. Furthermore, air pollution from landfill fires or gas emissions can significantly affect respiratory health, potentially leading to cases of tuberculosis in vulnerable individuals within the community.
Organic waste in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change
Your Eco-Tour: What to See and Feel
Your Eco-Tour: What to See and Feel
Sensory Experience: Prepare for strong odors. The smell of decomposing waste can be intense, especially on warm days. This is a crucial part of understanding the reality of our waste. Please wear a double-layered facemask when entering the facility. Just be careful not to be noticed by the waste sorters working in the area, as they may interpret it negatively. Most of the waste sorters are poor members of the community and don't wear protective equipment.
Terrain: The ground can be uneven, muddy, and dusty. Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking.
Vehicles & Activity: Expect heavy equipment (bulldozers, dump trucks) and continuous activity. We will stay in designated safe areas.
The Scale: The sheer volume of waste can be a powerful visual. Please take it in, reflect on it, and remember our collective responsibility.
Safety First: Always stay with the group and follow instructions from your guide for your safety.
Observe, Don't Touch: This is an observation tour. Do not touch any waste or materials.
Photography: Taking photos of any areas in the facility is currently prohibited by the management.
See you at 7:30 AM in the FWS Lobby. Please bring your tumbler with drinking water, fan, umbrella (in case it rains), sanitizing alcohol spray, and a facemask. Don't forget to take your vitamins!
This Eco-Trip is brought to you by the Senior High School Arrupe Office of Community Service and Advocacy (AOCSA) in partnership with the Ateneo Center for Environment and Sustainability of Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
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