BEHINDPRINT: Waste Business is Good Business

BEHINDPRINT: Waste Business is Good Business

By Estrella Torres | August 17, 2026

The prolonged heavy rains have pushed massive amounts of plastic waste and debris into the Redemptorist Water Channel in Paranaque City last week. Over 700 metric tons were drained by the local government. 

National and local government officials have rushed to  order a quick clean-up. But then there is the problem of flooding across Metro Manila, Cavite and Bulacan, partially because of clogged drainage, and  because there has never been an effective flood control system across the cities.  This time, all of us know why. 

The problem of massive solid waste creeping into our waterways, and polluting our ecosystem can be addressed through a business perspective. 

With over 60,000 tons of daily solid waste and a severe shortage of sanitary landfills, we should look into the business side of things with the adage: “ May pera sa basura.” 

There is a  multi-billion-dollar market opportunity for waste management and recycling in the Philippines, according to the European Union in the Philippines.

As Tsvetomir Svilenov, Project Manager for the EU Delegation in the Philippines, noted during a recent German RETech webinar, European private companies can play a central role in shaping the country’s circular economy while tapping into a robust market.

The global waste management industry—valued at US $2.7 billion in 2024—is projected to grow by 7.3 percent annually. In the Philippines, high demand creates immense potential across several key niches:

• Waste segregation and collection infrastructure
• Composting and biogas generation from organic waste
• Advanced waste recovery facilities and waste-to-energy conversion
• Digital monitoring and data management systems

The Philippines has well-crafted laws on solid waste management  including Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act), the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, and the Clean Air Act. 

But enforcement of these laws remains a significant hurdle to addressing solid waste and plastic pollution. Compounding these problems are  infrastructure limitations that cause overflowing landfills, limited LGU budgets and rapid urbanization.

To allow EU companies to invest in waste management in the Philippines, the EU Delegation has initiated a  €60 Million Green Partnership program. 

The program supports  partnerships between European firms, local government units, and private sector to venture into: 

• Technology transfer and infrastructure modernization
• Capacity building and operational support for LGUs
• Public advocacy campaigns promoting behavioral change toward a circular economy

Witnessing the massive debris clogging the Baclaran water channel compels us to reflect on the systemic failures that have led us to an environmental crisis.

I believe it’s about time we look at business opportunities on societal problems instead of  engaging in endless blame games on social media.

The Philippines can tap European expertise with local demand and financial backing, while investors can turn environmental challenges into long-term commercial success.

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