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Who Really Runs Cebu City's Binaliw Landfill? Inside The Company At The Center Of The Collapse
Photo credit: Consortium for People's Development - Disaster Response
CEBU CITY, Philippines — As rescue teams continue recovery operations at the collapsed landfill in Barangay Binaliw, public attention has turned to a pressing question: Who is responsible for operating the waste facility at the heart of the tragedy?
The landfill is operated by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PIWSI), a private waste management company under Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra), the infrastructure group chaired by businessman Enrique Razon Jr.
From Private Dump to Prime Infra Control
The Binaliw landfill was originally operated by ARN Central Waste Management Inc. (ACI), which managed the site as a traditional waste disposal facility for Cebu City.
Prime Infra entered the picture in late 2022, with the acquisition of ACI’s Cebu waste business completed in January 2023. Following the takeover, PIWSI became the primary operator of the landfill, inheriting both the facility and its operational challenges.
Prime Infra described the acquisition as part of a broader plan to modernize waste management in urban areas by shifting away from open dumping toward resource recovery and waste processing.
Upgrades and Operations at the Site
After assuming control, PIWSI introduced an automated Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the former landfill site. The facility was equipped with industrial systems such as sorting machines, magnetic separators, vibrating screens, and balers designed to recover recyclable materials from mixed municipal waste.
According to government and media reports, the Binaliw site handles approximately 1,000 tons of garbage per day, collected mainly from Cebu City. PIWSI has also promoted the production of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) — processed waste that can be used as an alternative fuel for industrial purposes.
Company statements have framed these initiatives as part of a “waste-to-value” approach aimed at reducing the volume of trash sent to landfills and limiting environmental impacts. However, specific performance targets cited by the company have not been independently verified by regulators.
Safety Concerns and Regulatory Action
Even before the collapse, the landfill had drawn attention from local officials and residents due to towering waste piles, odor complaints, and safety concerns, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Those concerns intensified after the massive garbage collapse last week, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries and buried workers and equipment under tons of waste.
In response, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a cease-and-desist order against PIWSI, suspending normal landfill operations. The order allows the company to continue rescue, retrieval, and site stabilization efforts, but not routine waste dumping.
A Brief Timeline
• Before 2023: Binaliw landfill operated by ARN Central Waste Management Inc.
• January 2023: Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. formally takes over operations
• 2024: Automated Materials Recovery Facility inaugurated at the site
• 2025: Operations continue amid community concerns and environmental scrutiny
• January 2026: Garbage collapse prompts fatalities and DENR-ordered suspension
What Happens Now
PIWSI now faces intensified regulatory, legal, and public scrutiny as authorities review compliance records, safety protocols, and landfill design. Government officials have indicated that technical assessments and corrective measures will be required before any consideration of resuming full operations.
As Cebu City grapples with both the human toll of the disaster and its long-term waste management needs, the Binaliw landfill has become a focal point in a broader debate over public safety, private operators, and accountability in essential services.
The landfill is operated by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PIWSI), a private waste management company under Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra), the infrastructure group chaired by businessman Enrique Razon Jr.
From Private Dump to Prime Infra Control
The Binaliw landfill was originally operated by ARN Central Waste Management Inc. (ACI), which managed the site as a traditional waste disposal facility for Cebu City.
Prime Infra entered the picture in late 2022, with the acquisition of ACI’s Cebu waste business completed in January 2023. Following the takeover, PIWSI became the primary operator of the landfill, inheriting both the facility and its operational challenges.
Prime Infra described the acquisition as part of a broader plan to modernize waste management in urban areas by shifting away from open dumping toward resource recovery and waste processing.
Upgrades and Operations at the Site
After assuming control, PIWSI introduced an automated Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the former landfill site. The facility was equipped with industrial systems such as sorting machines, magnetic separators, vibrating screens, and balers designed to recover recyclable materials from mixed municipal waste.
According to government and media reports, the Binaliw site handles approximately 1,000 tons of garbage per day, collected mainly from Cebu City. PIWSI has also promoted the production of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) — processed waste that can be used as an alternative fuel for industrial purposes.
Company statements have framed these initiatives as part of a “waste-to-value” approach aimed at reducing the volume of trash sent to landfills and limiting environmental impacts. However, specific performance targets cited by the company have not been independently verified by regulators.
Safety Concerns and Regulatory Action
Even before the collapse, the landfill had drawn attention from local officials and residents due to towering waste piles, odor complaints, and safety concerns, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Those concerns intensified after the massive garbage collapse last week, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries and buried workers and equipment under tons of waste.
In response, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a cease-and-desist order against PIWSI, suspending normal landfill operations. The order allows the company to continue rescue, retrieval, and site stabilization efforts, but not routine waste dumping.
A Brief Timeline
• Before 2023: Binaliw landfill operated by ARN Central Waste Management Inc.
• January 2023: Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. formally takes over operations
• 2024: Automated Materials Recovery Facility inaugurated at the site
• 2025: Operations continue amid community concerns and environmental scrutiny
• January 2026: Garbage collapse prompts fatalities and DENR-ordered suspension
What Happens Now
PIWSI now faces intensified regulatory, legal, and public scrutiny as authorities review compliance records, safety protocols, and landfill design. Government officials have indicated that technical assessments and corrective measures will be required before any consideration of resuming full operations.
As Cebu City grapples with both the human toll of the disaster and its long-term waste management needs, the Binaliw landfill has become a focal point in a broader debate over public safety, private operators, and accountability in essential services.
Jan 13, 2026
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