CLARK FREEPORT — The new P1-billion material recovery facility (MRF) in Porac might just be the most logical and practical alternative to the sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac that may be closing by October this year.
“We really want to be able to provide an alternative to different LGUs like a large scale MRF like ours,” Cara Peralta, lead officer for waste sector of Prime Infrastructure (Prime Infra) on Tuesday said. She was guest in News@Hues, a media forum of the Pampanga Press Club in cooperation with Park Inn by Radisson Clark.
Prime Infra, through its Prime Waste Solutions, companies under the diversified business conglomerate of Filipino billionaire Enrique Razon, has opened on June 5 with DENR Secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda and Mayor Carmelo Lazatin among the honored guests.
Peralta, however, clarified that the 10-hectare MRF in Barangay Planas in Porac town is not a landfill, as the large scale MRF will focus on waste recovery that will cater to segregation, recycling, sorting and treatment.
“The facility that we have is not a landfill. It is not an open dumpsite,” Peralta said.
Open dumpsites which are now banned by law and improperly operated landfills can cause fire, water contamination in nearby bodies of water, putting peoples safety is at risk.
Peralta added that the MRF, capable of accommodating 5,000 tons per day, is highly automated and is geared towards recovery of waste into something reusable.
“We estimate that once we are fully operational, 80 to 90 percent of waste that we received will be recovered and (be) used for something of value,” she added.
This developed as the said facility has gotten endorsement from the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham).
PamCham co-founder and Committee Chairman on Infrastructure Development Rene G. Romero said that the MRF of Prime Infra was found to have the “best facilities and processes” after concluding an ocular inspection of three alternative waste sites in Pampanga.
“It features high standard facilities and is future ready for waste to energy conversion or fuel value facility. I can confidently say that it is the most premium among the three waste facilities,” Romero said at News@Hues.
Aside from the MRF of Razon Group, he also visited another MRF in Mitla, Porac and a landfill facility in Floridablanca.
He noted that the three waste facilities would have a combined capacity of 11,000 metric tons.
“If we are to look for alternative to Kalangitan, dapat yung pang long term na. We have 3 facilities that can accommodate (garbage disposal),” he said.
Romero allayed fears of a possible garbage disposal crisis.
“Wala tayo dapat ipag alala, kasi meron tayo sasalo sa dumi not only in Central Luzon but also northern Luzon (areas),” he said.
Earlier, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) announced its inability to extend or renew the contract with Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation due to contractual limitations and planned development initiatives by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for New Clark City.
The CDC said the BCDA is keen on the development and increase of the economic value of the 100-hectare land area currently covered by a Contract for Service with MCWMC located in the New Clark City.
Nonetheless, the CDC is pursuing alternative waste management solutions and procuring the services of a garbage collector for Clark within its jurisdiction, the Clark Freeport Zone, and the Clark Special Economic Zone. Additionally, the CDC will accredit service providers for its locators/investors, ensuring designated disposal facilities for hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
Meanwhile, the BCDA said it will assist local government units, government agencies, and locators to explore alternative solutions for the affected stakeholders’ waste disposal requirements to ensure non-disruption of solid waste management services.
