Rama to organize a Metro Cebu garbage summit for a united approach to solid waste management
A Metro Cebu-wide garbage summit is expected to address the garbage woes of the different localities here. /CDND File Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama is planning to organize a garbage summit to solicit the cooperation of Metro Cebu cities and municipalities in finding solutions to the problem that is affecting them all.
On its own, Cebu City would not be able to address its garbage concerns, adding that the other neighboring local government units (LGUs) have to also get involve in identifying a wholistic solution to this concern, says Rama, chairperson of the Cebu City Council’s committee on environment.
However, Rama said he has to check first where to get the funding for the planned summit, adding that he might solicit the assistance of Mega Cebu.
Rama said he wanted the summit to lead to the creation of an action plan, an integrated approach and solution to Metro Cebu’s garbage problems.
A study conducted by the Institute for Global Environment Strategies (IGES) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program found that Cebu City’s solid waste increased from 212 tons daily in 1982 to 420 tons daily in 2010.
On the other hand, Metro Cebu was estimated to produce around 2,500 tons of solid wastes. The same study also estimated that as of 2016, Cebu generated about 630 tons of solid waste daily.
But just like Mayor Edgardo Labella, Rama said that he does not approve of having a sanitary landfill located within the city.
Labella had earlier said that he would not allow ARN Central Waste Management Corp. to operate its sanitary landfill located in Barangay Binaliw. The company has proposed to put up an integrated waste management and energy development facility in Cebu.
Read More: Labella to order review of Binaliw landfill contract
ARN’s project is estimated to cost P942 million for the first two phases, which include the construction of an engineered sanitary landfill, a material recovery complex and the collection and hauling complex. The 3rd phase of the project will cost P8.65 billion to fund the establishment of a rapid anaerobic digester complex, the thermal gasification complex and the integrated power plant complex.
Rama said that he was looking at the integrated solid waste management facility established Malaysia, which he had visited years ago, as a possible model for Cebu.
A private company, the KUB – Berjaya Enviro Sdn. Bhd. (KBE), operates the Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill and the Amita KUB-Berjaya Kitar Sdn Bhd (AKBK) recycling facility and the energy company KUB Berjaya Energy Sdn. Bhd.
The Bukit Tagar Sanitary landfill has the capacity to accommodate solid waste from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya for at least 50 years.
On the other hand, the AKBK uses a proprietary technology that enables it to recycle waste without any residue. It converts wastes into alternative raw material (ARM) and alternative fuel (AF) as substitute for natural raw material and fossil fuel in cement making.
KBE also invested in a 4.4-megawatt gas engine, which can generate green energy from landfill gas, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, KUB Berjaya Energy Sdn. Bhd. /dcb
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