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DENR Shuts Down Green Leap Landfill After Deadly Trash Slide In Rizal
Photo credit: Rodriguez PNP via PNA
Operations have been halted at a major landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal after a massive trash slide left one person dead and two others missing.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau CALABARZON issued a Cease-and-Desist Order on Tuesday, February 24, against Green Leap Solid Waste Management, Inc.’s sanitary landfill in Sitio Lukutan Munti, Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.
The order specifically covers Phase 5 of the landfill — a six-hectare area — where the trash slide occurred.
What Happened
The incident took place on February 20, 2026. Investigators confirmed that around 420,000 cubic meters of waste eroded from the active tipping area. The collapse reportedly buried three units of heavy equipment.
When authorities returned for a follow-up investigation on February 23, they found troubling signs: erosion in the active dumping zone, foul odor from exposed waste, and a visible crack in an adjacent waste bench that could trigger another collapse. Officials also documented multiple violations of the landfill operator’s Environmental Compliance Certificate conditions.
Immediate Shutdown Ordered
Because of the risks, DENR-EMB CALABARZON ordered the immediate suspension of all operations in Phase 5. The only activities allowed are emergency and remedial measures — including retrieval operations, slope stabilization, debris clearing, and installation of engineering controls to prevent further erosion.
A strict no-entry policy is now in place to protect the public and ensure rescue and rehabilitation efforts can proceed without interference.
DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria stressed that authorities are taking the matter seriously.
“Our priority is to ensure the immediate stabilization of the site to prevent further environmental degradation and to hold the proponent strictly accountable for these operational lapses,” Tamoria said. “We will not tolerate negligence that puts the environment and public safety at risk.”
What Happens Next
To avoid disrupting waste services in nearby communities, the company has been advised to transfer its active dumping operations to another stable portion of the landfill.
Green Leap Solid Waste Management, Inc. has five days to submit a detailed report and is required to present corrective actions at a Technical Conference scheduled for February 25, 2026. Failure to attend will be treated as a waiver of its right to be heard, allowing regulators to proceed with legal action based on available evidence.
DENR-EMB CALABARZON says it will continue to closely monitor the site to ensure that rehabilitation, leveling, and slope stabilization works are completed promptly and in full compliance with environmental standards.
For now, the focus remains on safety, accountability, and preventing another tragedy.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau CALABARZON issued a Cease-and-Desist Order on Tuesday, February 24, against Green Leap Solid Waste Management, Inc.’s sanitary landfill in Sitio Lukutan Munti, Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.
The order specifically covers Phase 5 of the landfill — a six-hectare area — where the trash slide occurred.
What Happened
The incident took place on February 20, 2026. Investigators confirmed that around 420,000 cubic meters of waste eroded from the active tipping area. The collapse reportedly buried three units of heavy equipment.
When authorities returned for a follow-up investigation on February 23, they found troubling signs: erosion in the active dumping zone, foul odor from exposed waste, and a visible crack in an adjacent waste bench that could trigger another collapse. Officials also documented multiple violations of the landfill operator’s Environmental Compliance Certificate conditions.
Immediate Shutdown Ordered
Because of the risks, DENR-EMB CALABARZON ordered the immediate suspension of all operations in Phase 5. The only activities allowed are emergency and remedial measures — including retrieval operations, slope stabilization, debris clearing, and installation of engineering controls to prevent further erosion.
A strict no-entry policy is now in place to protect the public and ensure rescue and rehabilitation efforts can proceed without interference.
DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria stressed that authorities are taking the matter seriously.
“Our priority is to ensure the immediate stabilization of the site to prevent further environmental degradation and to hold the proponent strictly accountable for these operational lapses,” Tamoria said. “We will not tolerate negligence that puts the environment and public safety at risk.”
What Happens Next
To avoid disrupting waste services in nearby communities, the company has been advised to transfer its active dumping operations to another stable portion of the landfill.
Green Leap Solid Waste Management, Inc. has five days to submit a detailed report and is required to present corrective actions at a Technical Conference scheduled for February 25, 2026. Failure to attend will be treated as a waiver of its right to be heard, allowing regulators to proceed with legal action based on available evidence.
DENR-EMB CALABARZON says it will continue to closely monitor the site to ensure that rehabilitation, leveling, and slope stabilization works are completed promptly and in full compliance with environmental standards.
For now, the focus remains on safety, accountability, and preventing another tragedy.
Feb 25, 2026
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