Friday, April 18, 2008 Solid waste management plan to reduce collection by 70%
A NEW waste management plan endorsed by Davao City's executive department to the City Council on April 9 is expected to reduce solid waste collection in the city by almost 75 percent.
The City Government, through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), drafted a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan. It is still up for approval by the City Council.
In Thursday's edition of the I-Speak Forum at the City Hall, Cenro chief Jocelyn Espina said the plan aims to accomplish a comprehensive implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act.
Espina explained that at present, the solid waste collected in the city, are as follows: 62 percent -- biodegradable, 20 percent -- residuals, 10 percent - recyclables, and 8 percent -- special wastes.
"Our goal is that we will only be transporting the 20 percent residuals to the landfill. These are the non-biodegradable waste na hindi na talaga magagamit," Espina said.
"We would like to fully utilize the biodegrdables, especially ones that can be used as soil conditioner and also have 100 percent recycling," he added.
Under Section 16 of the Solid Waste Management Act, a province, city or municipality, through its local solid waste management boards, shall prepare its respective 10-year solid waste management plans consistent with the national solid waste management framework.
The waste management plan shall be for the re-use, recycling and composting of wastes generated in their respective jurisdiction and ensuring its efficient management.
The plan shall place primary emphasis on implementation of all feasible re-use, recycling, and composting programs while identifying the amount of landfill and transformation capacity that will be needed for solid waste which cannot be re-used, recycled, or composted.
The city has already set aside funds for a sanitary landfill and it will be established as soon as Davao City council approves the plan. (GLP)
