New recycling machines reduce Baguio waste

BAGUIO CITY-The city’s solid waste problem has significantly decreased with the operation ot two Environmental Recycling System (ERS) machines which process the biodegradable waste to high grade compost or fertilizer.

Romeo Concio, City General Services Office (GSO) head, said the processing of some 48 tons of biogradable waste by the ERS machines daily reduced the volume of solid waste being hauled out of the city to the Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL) in Capas, Tarlac.

The volume of garbage being hauled out of the city is about 160 to 200 tons daily, including the 48 tons of biodegradable waste being processed by the ERS machines.

Concio said the city will be able to save PHP12 million annually from the cost of hauling and tipping fee for the 48 tons biodegradable waste.

“Hauling to the ESL in Tarlac is still the feasible option to avoid a serious garbage problem in the city while we are working on the establishment of the planned Integrated Solid Waste Disposal Facility (ISWDF) in Antamok. The cost of maintenance for the two ERS is PHP12 million while the hauling cost of 48 tons of waste is PHP24 million, ” Concio said.

He said the maintenance cost is insignificant considering the benefits the machines give in return – the high grade fertilizer and the reduction of garbage being hauled out of the city.

The city allocated a total of PHP85 million from the PHP1.776 billion 2017 annual budget of the city purposely for the hauling of the city’s waste to the Tarlac ESL.

Earlier, Benguet Corporation entered into an agreement with the local government units (LGUs) of Baguio City, the Municipality of Itogon in Benguet and with Goldrich Natural Resources Exploration and Development Inc., to develop its Antamok properties into an Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL) with waste-to-energy compost aimed for sustainable environmental preservation and protection. (PNA)FPV/ZST/JOJOLAMARIA#

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