By ADELA M. WAYAS
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Mauricio Domogan said in his regular media that aJapanese technology in addressing the city’s garbage problem will be adopted.

According to Domogan, the City Solid Waste Management Board (CSWMB) approved and recommended the Environmental Recycling System (ERS) of Japan’s Shimizu & Company Limited. The mayor said the machine composes biodegradable waste and converts it to high grade fertilizer.

Domogan said that two units of the Japanese technology costing P64 million each will be purchased if its realization be pushed through and once the city council will approve the realignment of funds for the said equipment.

The ERS was selected by the CSWMB among many proposals of companies from different countries. According to the recommendations of the technical committee, the ERS is considered to be the appropriate technology to help in solving the garbage problem of the city.

City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) head Cordelia Lacsamana said that the latest model of the ERS could convert 48 tons of biodegradable wastes into fertilizer from the 66% biodegradable wastes the city is collecting from the 160 tons daily wastes of the people of Baguio.

Lacsamana said that the purchasing of such equipment is needed as the city’s hauling expenses continue to increase. She also said that the utilization of theIrisan dump site is already on its last stretch of its extended period of usage.

Lacsamana added that the Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) and Engineered Sanitary Landfill Sitting are taking a long period of time and experimental technologies that were proposed earlier were not at all feasible.

The CEPMO head said that the ERS machine will consume 794 liters a day. Lacsamana explained that the machines will be able to use P25,408.00 per month if the fuel costs P32 per liter totaling to P9,273,920.00 a year.

Domogan said that included in the offer of the Japanese company are the installation of the equipment and training of city personnel who will operate the machines by technicians to be provided by same company.

He said that the company will also dispose all the residuals of the city and other wastes at no cost. With this the Mayor said that for additional income for the barangays, the people concerned should continue to handle and maximize recyclables.

Domogan also said that the remaining 18 tons in the daily waste collection of the city will be processed by the city using the “turon” style and Fred Fangonon’s backyard composting style.

Furthermore, Domogan said that along with the ERS machines, the local government will also buy five new garbage trucks with two compartments each which will segregate biodegradable from non-biodegradable wastes.

He said that purchasing these equipment is an “absolute necessity.” With these equipment and machines, Domogan said that the city could stop bringing the garbage waste to Capas Tarlac. He added that the city has spent already P200 million because of this. Moreover, he said that the “No Segragation/ No Collection” policy is still being imposed.# nordis.net