Monday, April 28, 2008 Gensan recycle fair recovers 5-T kilos of recyclables By Ruby More
THE first-ever Gensan Recyclable Waste Fair, organized by the City Government of General Santos to celebrate Earth Day, recovered over 5,000 kilograms of recyclable waste.
The waste recovered, such as plastics, used appliances and computer hardware, and used paper, has a value of P40,500.
In his speech during the opening program, chair of City Council committee on environment Richard Atendido, who spearheaded the event, underscored the collaborative efforts by the local government, non-government organizations (NGOs), government agencies, business sector, and individuals in making the event a success.
Atendido urged everyone to segregate and recycle wastes, not only to generate additional income, but also to help protect the environment.
"If we minimize waste, especially those that are not biodegradable, there will be less pollution, less hazard to the environment, and of course to the people," he said.
Many residents of General Santos who trooped to Gaisano Mall, the venue of the fair, were amazed that what they considered as junk or "basura" could earn them cash.
People from all walks of life, young and old, from far-flung and nearby barangays, came to sell various "junks" such as old refrigerators, aircon units, washing machines, and computer hardware.
Nenita Armendez, who sold 81 kilos of old newspapers, earned P486. Edgar Eturma got P885 for his old refrigerator.
The General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., one of the co-conveners of the event, earned P4,000 for its busted aircon (which weighed 200 kilos). A local department store brought more than 1,000 kilos of corrugated carton and earned more than P4,000.
The Waste Analysis and Characterization Study conducted by the USAid-funded Philippine Environmental Governance 2 Project in 2006 reveals that GenSan generates a total of 170 tons of waste per day, with per capita waste generation at 0.44 kilos per day.
The study also revealed that 65.5 percent of the total waste collected is biodegradable, 15.6 percent is recyclable, 0.5 percent is considered as special wastes (examples are fluorescent bulbs, alkaline batteries) and only 18.4 percent is residual.
This means that over 80 percent of waste can be recycled into something useful. Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act of 2003 mandates all local government units (LGUs) to divert at least 25 percent of their waste.
One of the highlights of the 1st Gensan Recyclable Waste Fair is the On-the-Spot Logo and Slogan contest. The winner, Pearlie Rose Jamerlan, a nursing student from the General Santos Doctors Medical School Foundation Inc. depicts the importance of proper waste management in protecting the environment-Sarangani Bay, its resources and the well being of all GenSan residents.
The winning entry will be the official logo and slogan of the GenSan Solid Waste Management Program.
The City Government plans to do activity once every quarter to coincide with the city's festivals and celebrations.
Implementation of waste segregation such as rapid and vermi-composting and recycling has made the city a model site to other LGUs in Mindanao.
EcoGov, who provided technical assistance to the City Government in the conduct of the event, is also assisting Gensan in the implementation of its solid waste and wastewater management programs.
The Provincial Council already legitimized the city's 10-year Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan, which will serve as the LGUs guide in running its solid waste management program, last week.
The EcoGov Project is a collaborative effort between USAid and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
