Presidential Decree (PD) 1152, “the Philippine Environmental Code,” which took effect in 1977, provides a basis for an integrated waste management regulation starting from waste source to methods of disposal. PD 1152 has further mandated specific guidelines to manage municipal wastes (solid and liquid), sanitary landfill and incineration, and disposal sites in the Philippines.

In 1990, the Philippine Congress enacted the Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act, commonly known as Republic Act (RA) 6969, a law designed to respond to increasing problems associated with toxic chemicals and hazardous and nuclear wastes. RA 6969 mandates control and management of import, manufacture, process, distribution, use, transport, treatment, and disposal of toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes in the country. The Act seeks to protect public health and the environment from unreasonable risks posed by these substances in the Philippines.

Apart from the basic policy rules and regulations of RA 6969, hazardous waste management must also comply with the requirements of other specific environmental laws, such as PD 984 (Pollution Control Law), PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Assessment System Law), RA 8749 (Clean Air Act) and RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) and their implementing rules and regulations.