Landfill 'may have polluted river'

A landfill in the Philippines has reportedly been caught disposing toxic chemicals into the Montalban River.

Earlier today, two teams were sent by environment secretary Lito Atienza to investigate the claim that leachate has been disposed in the river at Rodriguez, Rizal, GMANews.TV reports.

Mr Atienza said the sanitary landfill should have a wastewater treatment facility to prevent this liquid bi-product being passed into a water channel or body of water.

"If there is none then there is a serious violation of the law," he added.

Mr Atienza said the environment department would not hesitate to pursue the operators of the landfill if this is the case, as the lack of a wastewater treatment facility would make the site an illegal "open dump".

In July 2008, Balita Pinoy reported that president Arroyo had formally opened the first landfill methane plant in the Philippines at Barangay San Isidro.