Solid Waste Importation Ban Act of 2026

Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES MAR 25 A10 :12 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 2016 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT ESTABLISHING A BAN ON THE IMPORTATION OF SOLID WASTE, PROVIDING PENALTIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE There is a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicating that poor management of solid waste is causing a public health crisis and calls for urgent action in protecting people and the environment in which they live!. Over 2 billion tons of municipal waste are produced every year, which threatens the global health?. Developed countries have long exported their solid waste to developing nations, even though they have the capacity to invest in domestic recycling and waste recovery facilities?. Studies indicate that much of this waste is either dumped or unsafely recycled, creating serious environmental and health risks. The Philippines has been 1 World. (2025, December 16). WHO highlights health risks and opportunities in the global waste crisis. Who.int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/news/item/16-12-2025-who-highlights-health-risks-and- opportunities-in-the-global-waste-crisis 2 Zhang, M., Ionkova, K., & Boukerche, S. (2025, June 1). How the World Bank is tackling the growing global waste crisis. World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/sustainablecities/how-the-world-bank-is-tackling-the- growing-qlobal-waste-crisis 3 Greenpeace. (2020, May 5). Waste Trade and the Philippines: How local and global policy instruments can stop the tide of foreign waste dumping in the country. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://www.greenpeace.org/static/planet4-philippines-stateless/2020/03/da311344-waste-trade-in-the- philippines-report-v2.pdf#page=10.09

particularly affected, receiving hazardous and mislabeled waste from developed countries, a situation exacerbated by its limited waste management infrastructure. In 2017, 56% of the world's plastic waste was exported to China. Due to the adverse environmental and health impacts, China implemented the Green Fence Policy in 2018, effectively blocking the importation of plastic waste into the country. In the Philippines, despite existing measures such as RA 6969 and RA 9003 to address poor solid waste management, illegal waste shipments continue to threaten the environment and public health. Pursuant to this bill, the proposed legislation aims to comprehensively deter the importation of solid waste due to its harmful effects on both the environment and the Filipino population. Furthermore, the country has yet to ratify the Basel Ban Amendment, and the absence of such measures continues to compromise the safety of citizens and the integrity of the nation's ecosystems. In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. = - JV EJERCITO 4 Bueta, R.P. Process Engineered Fuel - Fuel product or plastic waste export indisguise? EcoWaste Coalition/IPEN, March 2022.

Senate Office of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 26 MAR 25 A10 :12 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 2016 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT ESTABLISHING A BAN ON THE IMPORTATION OF SOLID WASTE, PROVIDING PENALTIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Solid Waste Importation

2 Ban Act of 2026.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy, - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

prohibit the entry of imported solid waste into Philippine territorial limits for whatever 5 purpose to prevent and control environmental pollution caused by solid waste, 6 safeguard human health, maintain ecological safety, and promote the sustainable 7 development of Philippine economy and society.

Sec. 3. Ban on Importation of Solid Waste and Its Use. - It shall be unlawful to

9 import any solid waste, as defined in Republic Act No. 9003 and its implementing rules and regulations, into or within Philippine territory, or otherwise use, treat, or process the same. For purposes of this Act, Special Economic Zones, as defined in Republic 12 Act No. 7916, as amended, are considered part of the Philippine territory.

Sec. 4. Penalties. - Any entity or person who shall import any solid waste

otherwise use, treat, or process the same in violation of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years, at the discretion of the court.

If the offender is a foreigner, the foreign offender shall be deported and barred 2 from any subsequent entry into the Philippines after service of sentence. In the case of corporations, associations, or other entities, the penalty shall be imposed upon the managing partner, president, or chief executive officer, in addition 5 to the payment of an exemplary damage of at least Five hundred thousand pesos 6 (Php500,000.00). If it is a foreign entity, the director and all its responsible officers 7 shall be barred from entry to the Philippines, in addition to the cancellation of its license to do business in the Philippines. In case the offender is a government official or employee, the penalties of 10 automatic dismissal from office and permanent disqualification from holding any 11 elective or appointive position shall be imposed, in addition to the penalties provided 12 herein.

Sec. 5. Other Penalties. - The person or firm responsible for or connected with

14 the unlawful importation of solid waste shall have the obligation to transport or send 15 back to the port of origin such prohibited wastes. If the importer cannot be ascertained, the carries shall be responsible for transporting such solid waste back to 17 the port of origin or pay the exemplary damage of at least Five hundred Thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or both. If the importation caused environmental pollution, the competent environmental protection agency shall order the importer to eliminate the pollution.

Sec. 6. Forfeiture of Proceeds and Equipment. - The penalty imposed for the

unlawful importation of solid waste and its use shall carry with it the confiscation and forfeiture in favor of the Government of the proceeds of the unlawful act including any instrument, equipment, tool, or other improvements used in or with which the offense was committed.

Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of

this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the

approval of this Act, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall formulate the necessary 31 rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any part or section of this Act is declared

unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect in any manner the other parts or sections hereof.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, proclamations, issuances, or

5 ordinances that are contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 6 hereby amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,