Capas, Tarlac—Residents in a farming village here are furious about the presence of a hazardous waste processing plant that have been releasing obnoxious odors, allegedly causing health problems among residents of its surrounding communities.
“The black smoke that is being released in the air from the chamber of hazardous waste processing plant has a foul and obnoxious smell. We have been experiencing health problems since the plant started its operation,” said a resident who declined to be named, citing security reasons.
The source, who resides just a few meters away from the Clean Leaf International Corp.’s hazardous waste processing plant, said most of the residents have filed formal appeals and complaints at their Barangay Hall to stop the operations of the hazardous waste treatment facility but failed.
“We have filed complaints against Clean Leaf, but our plight landed on deaf ears of our local leaders,” another resident said while pointing to thick black smoke emitting from the plant stack.
The company has yet to respond to requests for comment as of press time.
The Central Luzon regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environmental Management Bureau 3 has issued a permit to operate to Clean Leaf signed by Raldy Pagador, officer-in-charge of the Clearance and Permits Division.
Clean Leaf secured an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the DENR Region 3 headed by the Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno.
“We have been experiencing difficulties in breathing especially the elders who were likened to persons gasping for air each time Clean Leaf releases the smoke into the air that rapidly spread within the community,” said the source whose livelihood have been greatly affected due to air pollution.
He added that some residents have to cover their nose with a piece of wet cloth to avoid inhaling what he said was “poisonous” smoke.
Inhabitants of surrounding communities, including Barangay Cutcut ll and nearby Bgy Anupul Bamban town, have turned to social media, hoping their plight will reach the office of their local government.
The source also pointed to a lagoon situated inside the Clean Leaf compound that may aggravate the obnoxious smell being experienced not only by residents but other people visiting the community.
“Sumasakit po ang sikmura ng mga taong nakalalanghap ng mabahong amoy, and we’re not going to wait for a member of family to suffer health problem because of air pollution,” the source pointed out.
Hazardous wastes collected from different industrial plants inside the Clark Freeport, other areas in Central Luzon, and even Metro Manila are being processed at the Clean Leaf facility.
The residents assumed that the local government might have issued a permit to Clean Leaf since trucks carrying hazardous waste have been crisscrossing the roads since the waste disposal plant started its operations, sources told Manila Standard.