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Smokey Mountain Remediation and Development Program
 A view from the top: the Smokey Mountain
waste dump in Manila, Philippines
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Smokey Mountain is a 2 million ton garbage heap that, for over 40 years, served as a waste disposal facility for Metro Manila and attracted a huge squatter community who scavenged the garbage for their livelihood. It is estimated that 30,000 people lived around the dumpsite. Community leaders have revealed that 80 % of the community derived their income from waste recycling directly or indirectly, earning approximately 200 pesos (US $3.50) per day.
Access to drinking water is currently made possible through a water purification center at Smokey Mountain. |
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In 1990, the Government ordered the closure of Smokey Mountain dumpsite. Former President Corazon Aquino approved a concept plan in 1992 for the National Housing Authority to transform the area into a portside community, including a social housing project for Smokey Mountain communities. To date, twenty one medium-rise housing buildings have been constructed and the communities have been able to move into their new homes. While the new housing program has greatly improved living conditions for some in the area, there is a great concern regarding the exposure of the communities residing in Smokey Mountain to the remaining mountain of waste adjacent to the social housing complex and providing alternative employment opportunities to those who have relied on wastes as source of livelihood.
Bags made entirely from recycled materials, such as newspaper are reaching international markets and engaging women who are able to work from home
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The waste continues to burn and residents complain of suffering from headaches, nausea and labored breathing, in addition to the irritation caused by smoke and smell permeating the area. Previous excavation of Smokey Mountain has left near vertical faces of waste that pose an immediate risk of a landslide like that which occurred in Payatas. In close proximity to Smokey Mountain is Pier 18, which the City of Manila is currently using as a temporary disposal area for its municipal solid waste. The situation in Pier 18, however, is unsustainable from a humanitarian, public health and environmental standpoint. Unless action is taken to rectify conditions at Pier 18, the site could rapidly become another Smokey Mountain.
SPM Conduct of training and Capacity-building sessions with the cooperatives |
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To remove the long-term risks from this community while improving the livelihood of the large numbers who rely on the waste businesses, the Poverty and Environment Program is providing support for the implementation of the Smokey Mountain Remediation and Development Project (SMRDP). The project aims to improve the quality of life and livelihood of 30,000 residents in the Smokey Mountain area through:
- Identification of a cost effective remediation program for Smokey Mountain that will provide long term protection for the community and the environment;
- Demonstration of a sustainable public-private partnership (PPP) mechanism for the implementation of an effective ecological solid waste management program; and
- Development of employment and other livelihood opportunities for the poor through activities associated with the establishment of the materials recovery facilities (MRFs) (i.e. recycling, composting, etc).
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SKMP bioreactor donated by the Dept. of Science and Technology which process up to 1 ton of organic waste per day. |
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Household organic waste sorting-this organic waste is being delivered to the SKMP bioreactor ensuring that a high level of environmental quality begins at the source |
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Existing MRF facility in Smokey Mountain- expanding the existing MRF is a key priority for the SMRDP |
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Sorting plastics is a major value-added service in recycling being targeted by the Sambayanang Kristianong Muling Pagkabuhay (a multi-purpose cooperative) |
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Projects 
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