San Carlos City barangay nominated for national eco-waste mgm't system model barangay
The effort of the City of San Carlos, this province, in the promotion and practice of solid waste management is paying off with the nomination of Brgy. Quezon within the top 18 of the National Search for Brgy. Model for Eco-Waste Management System.
Engineer Loreto Sanchez, Solid Waste Manager of the San Carlos City revealed the nomination during the recent Center for Environment Initiatives Forum conducted by the Provincial Environment Management Office.
At present, the city has a four-hectare Eco-center Project where the two-hectare is dedicated for composting, its Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and wastewater treatment. 6,600 sq. meters is used as a landfill to accommodate residual waste. The landfill uses clay-lining as it is abundant in the area and much cheaper than the synthetic ones.
Sanchez said that the city 80-90 percent of the city's waste is biodegradable or 10 out of 15 cans of wastes are biodegradable. Sanchez, admits however, that it is impossible to have a zero-waste city.
"Eventually, dumpsites will be closed as we are simultaneously shifting to sanitary landfills," Sanchez added.
In Early 2004, San Carlos City has conceptualized the Mechanical-Biological Waste Treatment with an Eco-Center Project. The city has been implementing the concept as part of the Solid Waste Management Plan in compliance with the R.A. 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act.
The city has already started in 2006 of the P75 million- Mechanical-Biological Waste Treatment Facility before Sanchez went on a study tour in Germany where he learned that the same concept is being used.
The P75 million facility came from the city's Development Fund.
(PIA/EAD)