Section 5Republic Act No. 7611., Sec./Art. 5

Powers and Functions of the Commission - The Commission shall oversee the implementation of solid waste management plans and prescribe policies to achieve the objectives of this Act. The Commission shall undertake the following activities.

(a) Prepare the national solid waste management framework;

(b) Approve local solid waste management plans in accordance with its rules and regulations;

(c) Review and monitor the implementation of local solid waste management plans;

(d) Coordinate the operation of local solid waste management boards in the provincial and city/municipal levels;

(e) To the maximum extent feasible, utilizing existing resources, assist provincial, city and municipal solid waste management plans;

(f) Develop a model provincial, city and municipal solid waste management plan that will establish prototypes of the content and format which provinces, cities and municipalities may use in meeting the requirements of the National Solid Waste Management Framework;

(g) Adopt a program to provide technical and other capability building assistance and support to local government units in the development and implementation of source reduction programs;

(h) Develop and implement a program to assist local government units in the identification of markets for materials that are diverted from disposal facilities through re-use, recycling, and composting, and other environment-friendly methods;

(i) Develop a mechanism for the imposition of sanctions for the violations environmental rules and regulations;

(j) Manage the Solid Waste Management Fund;

(k) Develop and prescribe procedures for the issuance of appropriate permits and clearances.

(l) Review the incentives scheme for effective solid waste management, for purpose of ensuring relevance and efficiency in achieving the objectives of this Act;

(m) Formulate the necessary education promotion and information campaign strategies;

(n) Establish, after notice and hearing of the parties concerned, standards, criteria, guidelines, and formula that are fair, equitable and reasonable, in establishing tipping charges and rates that the proponent will charge in the operation and management of solid waste management facilities and technologies.

(o) Develop safety nets and alternative livelihood programs for small recyclers and other sectors that will be affected as a result of the construction and/or operation of solid waste management recycling plant or facility.

(p) Formulate and update a list of non-environmentally acceptable materials in accordance with the provisions of this Act. For this purpose, it shall be necessary that proper consultation be conducted by the Commission with all concerned industries to ensure a list that is based on technological and economic viability.

(q) Encourage private sector initiatives, community participation and investments resource recovery-based livelihood programs for local communities.

(r) Encourage all local government agencies and all local government units to patronize products manufactured using recycled and recyclable materials;

(s) Propose and adopt regulations requiring the source separation and post separation collection, segregated collection, processing, marketing and sale of organic and designated recyclable material generated in each local government unit; and

(t) Study and review of the following:

(i) Standards, criteria and guidelines for promulgation and implementation of an integrated national solid waste management framework; and

(ii) Criteria and guidelines for siting, design, operation and maintenance of solid waste management facilities.