We read with great interest an article ran by Holcim Philippines, Inc. on The Philippine Daily Inquirer last Sunday. The article tackled the company's efforts in utilizing co-processing of waste in cement production in their plants in the Philippines.
About two years ago, while doing research on solid waste management, I read an article about a study being conducted by the Department of Science and Technology on the matter of using industrial waste as fuel for the kilns of the cement industry. The study is intended to serve as a guide for crafting policy on co-processing of wastes taking into consideration the strict provisions of the Clean Air Act. Our research was stopped as it was overtaken by events in the colorful world of provincial politics and I failed to monitor what eventually happened to the DOST initiative.
The announcement (through the PDI article) that four Holcim Philippines plants have already started co-processing is a delightful surprise. Co-processing not only cuts fossil fuel costs, it also provides an environmentally friendly alternative to waste disposal.
In more graphic terms, imagine a mountain of used car and truck tires. If no solution would be found on how to dispose of these tires, they would eventually be dumped onto landfills. (Of course, minus the few thousands burned during the insane New Year Celebrations we have hereabouts) One option is to incinerate these tires but this option is not available anymore in the era of the Clean Air Act. The solution was eventually found in co-processing.
What else can be used in co-processing? Liquid waste such as used oil, sludge, solvents and paint residues and solid waste such as contaminated rags, mould runners and packaging materials. All of these would have been dumped into our landfills if co-processing is not utilized.
This brings me back to my pet peeve. Can we use our unsegregated garbage in the co-processing scheme? The answer is an absolute no! Only specific wastes may be used in co-processing and since our garbage is practically not sorted, there is a big risk that severe pollutants may have been included in it and burning would only result in the release of these pollutants into the air.
Our thoughts on this?
Co-processing provides us a good alternative to waste disposal and it provides a solution to some of the problems that persist in waste management. Yes it relieves us of some of our worries but it is not the cure for all our troubles. Waste, as it is, is brought about by human insensitivity to the ways of nature. If we could only be more responsible for our actions, then we would not have had the problems in the first place.
Showing posts with label Waste Segregation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Waste Segregation. Show all posts
Monday, January 28, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Reactions to News Items
I watched the late news on Studio 23 tonight and saw two disturbing news items.
One, Boracay regulars are now complaining of the dirty water coming out of pipes that drain onto the sea. Officials of the Municipality of Malay claim that the water coming out of pipes came from a natural spring and is in fact not dirty. Visitors are claiming otherwise. Residents though are saying that there are times that their homes are being flooded and the water that goes inside the houses are murky smelly water.
Just a food for thought: is there already a sewage treatment facility in the island?
Two, hospital waste from a private institution in Bacoor, Cavite are not being collected by the garbagemen for fear that these are contaminated. What was shown on TV is the mound of trash that contains used syringes and dextrose bags, soiled bandages and other hospital trash. Mind you, this was a pile of unsegregated garbage with hospital wastes to boot!
Query: Various laws have obviously been violated in this instance, why are they not being enforced here?
There was a bright spot in the news though; in Norzagaray, Bulacan, a dumpsite (apparently a sanitary landfill) was featured with the manager of the facility being quoted as inviting the people to come and visit the place. He is claiming that they have followed all the requirements set forth in the Solid Waste Law and that they are observing the correct procedures in the disposal of human excesses.
Yes, a sanitary landfill is a vast improvement over the open dumpsite, but as I have earlier said, segregation of wastes is the key to solving the Problem.
One, Boracay regulars are now complaining of the dirty water coming out of pipes that drain onto the sea. Officials of the Municipality of Malay claim that the water coming out of pipes came from a natural spring and is in fact not dirty. Visitors are claiming otherwise. Residents though are saying that there are times that their homes are being flooded and the water that goes inside the houses are murky smelly water.
Just a food for thought: is there already a sewage treatment facility in the island?
Two, hospital waste from a private institution in Bacoor, Cavite are not being collected by the garbagemen for fear that these are contaminated. What was shown on TV is the mound of trash that contains used syringes and dextrose bags, soiled bandages and other hospital trash. Mind you, this was a pile of unsegregated garbage with hospital wastes to boot!
Query: Various laws have obviously been violated in this instance, why are they not being enforced here?
There was a bright spot in the news though; in Norzagaray, Bulacan, a dumpsite (apparently a sanitary landfill) was featured with the manager of the facility being quoted as inviting the people to come and visit the place. He is claiming that they have followed all the requirements set forth in the Solid Waste Law and that they are observing the correct procedures in the disposal of human excesses.
Yes, a sanitary landfill is a vast improvement over the open dumpsite, but as I have earlier said, segregation of wastes is the key to solving the Problem.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Trash
I watched the early evening news today January 15,2008 and here are some items that I took note of:
In Naples, Italy. residents are complaining because of trash that remain uncollected for the last three weeks. The City dump has been closed and the government has brought in the Army to help. Some of the City's trash were loaded onto trucks and brought by ferry boat to Sicily. As can be expected, protesters angrily met the truckloads of rubbish. City magistrates are still to decide on whether incinerators should be allowed just so to solve the worsening problem.
In Meycauayan City, Bulacan, a few kilometers North of Manila, Philippines, the City dump was closed down due to incessant complaints from residents. According to the manager of the facility, the 3 hectare dumpsite suffered from little or no maintenance at all due limited funds. As a result of this, the trash remained untreated in the open pits and created a stench that affected the nearby village.
In Davao City, Philippines, at least two houses were crushed when a mountain of trash fell on them. The incident happened in the old City dump. No other details were provided.
Theses events were unrelated and they happened hundreds of kilometers away from one another, but a common thread runs through them. Trash! Unsegregated garbage dumped into landfills. Non-biodegradable materials and biodegradable items mixed and thrown into open pits.
Some problems are brought to light. One, absolute failure to undertake segregation. Two, the inefficiency of landfills. Three, the temptation to resort to quick fix solutions that may bring about greater problems like incineration. Four, lack of government funds for proper garbage disposal.
We need to make a collective effort to come up with solutions to these problems. Unless we do that, the incidents narrated above will be repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated ...
In Naples, Italy. residents are complaining because of trash that remain uncollected for the last three weeks. The City dump has been closed and the government has brought in the Army to help. Some of the City's trash were loaded onto trucks and brought by ferry boat to Sicily. As can be expected, protesters angrily met the truckloads of rubbish. City magistrates are still to decide on whether incinerators should be allowed just so to solve the worsening problem.
In Meycauayan City, Bulacan, a few kilometers North of Manila, Philippines, the City dump was closed down due to incessant complaints from residents. According to the manager of the facility, the 3 hectare dumpsite suffered from little or no maintenance at all due limited funds. As a result of this, the trash remained untreated in the open pits and created a stench that affected the nearby village.
In Davao City, Philippines, at least two houses were crushed when a mountain of trash fell on them. The incident happened in the old City dump. No other details were provided.
Theses events were unrelated and they happened hundreds of kilometers away from one another, but a common thread runs through them. Trash! Unsegregated garbage dumped into landfills. Non-biodegradable materials and biodegradable items mixed and thrown into open pits.
Some problems are brought to light. One, absolute failure to undertake segregation. Two, the inefficiency of landfills. Three, the temptation to resort to quick fix solutions that may bring about greater problems like incineration. Four, lack of government funds for proper garbage disposal.
We need to make a collective effort to come up with solutions to these problems. Unless we do that, the incidents narrated above will be repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated ...
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