City has great potential to turn waste into energy
Tons of garbage at the city's dumpsite in Brgy. Calajunan, Mandurriao could be used to generate one megawatt of electricity that could augment to the city's power needs.
This was learned from Ricky Beltran, consultant of the Philippine Bio-Sciences Company Inc. (PhilBIO) during a presentation with the Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) last week.
PhilBIO is proposing to put up Restore Biogas Cogeneration Facility (ReStore), which could turn biodegradable wastes into energy, at the city's dumpsite.
Beltran said they have the technology to hasten the processing of biodegradable wastes. The waste will be collected in the Covered In-Ground Anaerobic Reactor (Cigar) before turning it into methane gas. The Cigar will act as storage facility and treatment vessel.
Iloilo City generates around 50 tons of organic waste daily dumped into the Calajunan dumpsite.
For the Calajunan dumpsite, PhiBIO proposes to use 5,000 square meters of the dumpsite for the project. The site would have a Cigar, park, a modular landfill area and a treatment facility. The remaining portion of the property can still be used for the Material Recovery Facility (MRF). The project lasts for 25 years.
In the same presentation, Beltran made clear that they can only process biodegradable waste such as waste from the market, household and supermarkets. They do not have the technology to process hazardous and hospital wastes.
ReStore project will serve as model for viable plan for the proper closure of open dumps and controlled dumpsites as mandated by Republic Act 9003, restoration of existing waste disposal facilities through the application of PhilBIO's proprietary biological treatment technologies, utilization of recovered methane gas to deliver profit from electric and thermal facilities and provision of capital investments and operating funds through Built Operate and Own or Built Operate and Transfer process.
Beltran said with the PhilBIO's proposal, the city do not have to spend for the facility. The local government unit should only provide the site. The interested local government unit could use Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) through a BOT scheme or a joint venture with private investors, said Beltran