How to Use the MRF

Your waste doesn't all belong in the same place.

The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is an important part of the community's waste management system. It is where recyclable and compostable materials can be sorted, recovered, processed, and prepared for their next use.

Under Republic Act No. 9003, an MRF is intended to receive waste for final sorting, segregation, composting, and recycling, while residual waste is directed to an appropriate disposal facility.

But a good MRF starts before the waste reaches the facility—with proper segregation at home.

1. Segregate at Home

Separate your waste where it is generated.

♻️ Recyclables

Keep clean and dry materials such as:

Plastic bottles and containers Cardboard and paper Glass bottles Metal and aluminum cans Other materials accepted by your local MRF

Whenever possible, empty, clean, and dry recyclable containers before bringing them to the MRF.

🌱 Biodegradable / Compostable

Keep biodegradable materials separate, such as:

Fruit and vegetable scraps Food scraps suitable for composting Leaves Grass clippings Other compostable organic materials

These materials may be processed into compost where the MRF has a composting facility.

🗑️ Residual Waste

Residual waste is material that cannot be reused, recycled, or composted through the available community system.

Keep these materials separate from recyclables and compostables.

⚠️ Special Waste

Do not simply mix potentially hazardous or special wastes with ordinary household waste.

Examples include batteries, electronic waste, chemical containers, and other materials requiring special handling. Ask your barangay or municipal/city environment office about the proper collection or disposal method.

2. Bring the Right Materials to the MRF

Before bringing materials to the MRF, make sure they are properly separated.

Do not use the MRF as a place to dump unsorted household garbage.

The better we segregate at home, the easier it is for MRF workers and volunteers to recover useful materials.

3. Follow the MRF's Collection Rules

Every MRF may have specific arrangements for:

Collection schedules Accepted materials Drop-off locations Composting Recycling Special waste Temporary storage

Follow the instructions provided by the barangay or MRF personnel.

If you are unsure whether something can be accepted, ask before leaving it there.

4. Keep Recyclables Valuable

Recyclable materials are easier to recover and sell when they are clean and properly separated.

For example:

Plastic bottle → Empty → Rinse → Dry → Separate

Avoid mixing food waste with paper, cardboard, or other recyclable materials.

5. Compost When You Can

Not everything needs to go to the MRF.

If your household has a suitable composting area, biodegradable kitchen and garden waste can be composted at home. The resulting compost can be used to improve your garden and container plants.

This reduces the amount of waste that needs to be collected and transported.

6. Never Leave Waste Beside the MRF

A clean MRF should not become another dumping area.

Do not leave bags of garbage outside the facility, along the road, or beside the entrance when the MRF is closed.

If the facility is not accepting a particular type of waste, bring it back home and ask the barangay about the proper disposal arrangement.

7. Remember the Goal

The purpose of the MRF is not simply to store garbage.

It helps the community:

Reduce → Reuse → Recover → Recycle → Compost → Properly Dispose

RA 9003 promotes segregation at source, recycling, reuse, composting, and resource recovery as part of ecological solid waste management.

A simple household rule

If you can compost it, compost it. If you can reuse it, reuse it. If you can recycle it, separate it. If it is residual waste, dispose of it properly. If you're unsure, ask.

A well-used MRF means less waste going to disposal facilities, more materials being recovered, and a cleaner community for everyone.

Learn More

For residents who want to understand the rules behind the MRF and ecological solid waste management:

Republic Act No. 9003 — Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000: Read RA 9003 on the Supreme Court E-Library DENR/EMB — Support in the Establishment of MRFs: DENR-EMB Solid Waste Management Division DENR FASPS E-Library — RA 9003 and its Implementing Rules: DENR Handbook on RA 9003 and its IRR DENR — Solid Waste Management Program: DENR Solid Waste Management Program