In April 2026, a fire at the former Navotas Sanitary Landfill in Barangay Tanza, Navotas City, began burning beneath the surface and did not stop for weeks. The smoke it released—fine particulate matter mixed with hazardous chemicals from burning plastic and other waste—drifted across Metro Manila and into neighboring provinces, pushing air pollution to levels not seen in the Philippines in decades. One resident, 54-year-old Arlene Abot, died from toxic fumes after inhaling the haze. She was the first recorded fatality from what authorities described as the country’s worst air pollution disaster this century.
This was not an isolated incident—it was the third landfill fire in the country that same year, and Greenpeace Philippines warned it reflects a growing and dangerous pattern of waste disasters. The Navotas fire is a stark illustration of how open trash burning, whether at a decommissioned landfill or in a backyard, directly harms the air Filipinos breathe and undoes hard-won environmental gains.
How Open Trash Burning Damages Air Quality
When trash is burned in the open, the smoke contains a complex mix of pollutants. The most dangerous are dioxins and furans, persistent organic pollutants produced when plastics are burned. These compounds do not break down quickly in the environment. They settle into soil and water, enter the food chain, and accumulate in the tissues of living organisms. The World Health Organization states that more than 90% of human exposure to dioxins comes through the food supply, meaning the contamination from a single fire can have long-term dietary consequences far beyond the immediate smoke plume.
Fine particulate matter—microscopic particles small enough to enter the bloodstream—was measured at levels that prompted health advisories across Metro Manila and Central Luzon. Air quality reached “very unhealthy to hazardous levels” in affected areas, and GreenDev Solutions recommended that children and adults, especially those with respiratory issues, avoid going outdoors and conducting physical exertion. Some families in coastal towns across Manila Bay were temporarily relocated after prolonged exposure to the thick haze.
Why the Philippines Is Vulnerable to Trash-Burning Disasters
The Navotas landfill had stopped accepting waste in August 2025, but it was never properly closed. Its previous operator, Philippine Ecology Systems Corp. (PhilEco), failed to complete the mandatory safe closure and rehabilitation plan after its concession expired. The facility was left without a covering layer of soil to prevent spontaneous combustion, and methane accumulated beneath the garbage pile, making any fire difficult to extinguish. The Bureau of Fire Protection deployed fire-retardant vehicles because plain water risked tearing the plastic membrane beneath the garbage, which could cause toxic seepage into Manila Bay. Firefighting equipment took days to reach the site because the landfill sits on an island two kilometers off the coast, requiring fire trucks to be loaded onto boats.
Greenpeace Philippines points to a systemic issue: the country continues to rely on weakly enforced and inadequate waste policies that focus on disposal rather than prevention. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act recognizes waste reduction and segregation, but implementation remains poor. The Extended Producer Responsibility Act has critical gaps that allow corporate overproduction and dependence on single-use products and packaging. Plastic comprises 12–24% of the Philippine waste stream, and over 99% of plastic is made from chemicals derived from fossil fuels, tying waste management directly to volatile fuel prices and supply issues.
The Philippine Space Agency used satellite imagery to detect more than 28 hectares of land within the landfill complex affected by the fire and confirmed ongoing heat sources beneath the surface. Atmospheric tracking showed smoke plumes traveled beyond Metro Manila, crossing Manila Bay and reaching other parts of Central Luzon depending on wind conditions. Ground-level monitoring alone could not capture the full scale of the event—space-based observation was required to understand how far the contamination spread.
Complications That Make the Problem Worse
Methane Fires Burn Underground for Weeks
Methane accumulating beneath garbage piles creates a persistent fire source that is extremely difficult to extinguish. The Navotas fire burned for more than 20 days because the methane layer kept the fire alive below the surface, releasing fumes continuously. Firefighting equipment and supplies could only reach the site after the Department of Public Works and Highways hastily built access roads to the island. Even then, authorities remained unsure when the fire would be fully extinguished.
Proximity to Food Production
The Navotas Sanitary Landfill is located near fishing grounds, aquaculture facilities, and dense residential areas. Dioxins and furans released by the fire settle into water and soil, where they enter the food chain through fish and crops. For communities already facing rising costs and economic uncertainty, the contamination of local food sources adds a health burden that compounds existing vulnerabilities.
Abandoned Sites Are Not Truly Closed
The Navotas landfill stopped accepting waste in August 2025, but its operator failed to secure the site. No soil cover was applied, no gas management system was installed, and no stabilization measures were taken. The fire was the direct result of an abandoned facility left in a dangerous state. Waste systems publicly treated as closed or decommissioned can remain environmentally dangerous long after operations stop, as this event made clear.
What Can Be Done About Open Trash Burning
Push for Stronger Waste Reduction Policies
The Philippine government must implement strong reduction measures, enforce strict segregation at source, and support a just transition to zero-waste systems like reuse. Greenpeace is calling for a national reuse framework to transition from disposable packaging to reuse systems. At the individual level, reducing reliance on single-use plastics and supporting segregation at home are concrete steps that keep materials out of the burn pile.
Demand Proper Closure of Decommissioned Landfills
When a landfill stops operating, it must be properly capped, stabilized, and fitted with gas management systems—not abandoned. The Navotas fire shows what happens when closure requirements are ignored. Communities near former landfills can ask local government units for information about closure plans and hold operators accountable for completing mandatory safe closure and rehabilitation plans.
Monitor Air Quality and Act on Alerts
During the Navotas fire, health advisories recommended limiting outdoor activity and using protective masks, especially for children, older adults, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Checking air quality alerts and following local health guidance during fire events or haze periods reduces exposure. The Bureau of Fire Protection noted that fire-retardant vehicles are now easier to deploy, but individual awareness remains the first line of defense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Moving Forward
The Navotas landfill fire is not an anomaly—it is the predictable outcome of weak regulations, abandoned facilities, and a waste system that prioritizes disposal over prevention. The air quality improvements the Philippines achieved over nearly three decades were reversed in a matter of weeks by a single fire. The question now is whether the lessons from this disaster will translate into stronger enforcement of existing laws, better closure of decommissioned sites, and a genuine shift toward waste reduction and reuse systems. For anyone concerned about the air they breathe, the most immediate step is to stay informed about local waste management practices and hold both operators and officials accountable for the safety of surrounding communities. If this was useful, you might also want to read how plastic waste threatens Philippine ecosystems.
Sources
Toxic Tides: Facing Marine Pollution Challenges — A closer look at how pollution, including waste from landfills, affects marine ecosystems and coastal communities in the Philippines.
Plastic Trash Hurts Philippine Seas — Examines the flow of plastic waste into the ocean and the long-term consequences for marine biodiversity and food safety.
Philippines Landfill Fire Kills 1, Chokes Metro Manila With Worst Air Pollution in Decades. Khaleej Times, 2026.
Earth Day in the Philippines Overshadowed by Toxic Smoke from a Burning Dumpsite. CleanTechnica, 2026.
Navotas Landfill Fire: Latest in Dangerous Trend of Waste Disasters. Greenpeace Philippines, 2026.
