AN OFFICIAL of Ateneo de Davao University’s (AdDU) Ecoteneo is not convinced that Japan’s Waste-To-Energy (WTE) technology would completely address waste management problems in the city.

“WTE is not the main option but it is to follow the eco-waste, that is our main contention. Eco-waste management pa rin para mag-zero waste,” AdDU Ecoteneo Director Carmela Santos told reporters during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday, January 7.

Santos explained that the city should first focus on educating waste-generators such as the households, business establishments, and academe.

“Let’s do first massive education sa mga tao. Kung i-push nila [ang WTE] then sabayan natin,” she said, adding that they are not opposing the technology but it is not the best solution that the city need to address waste concerns.

“Japan has a standard. Ini-improve nila ang technology but kasabay nun ang disiplina sa kanilang mga tao. Grabe sila maka-segregate kaya siguro kahit 50 years na technology na yun, hindi ito as harmful,” Santos said.

In 2014, WTE was introduced in the city yet it was only in 2018 that it garnered support from City Councilors Edgar Ibuyan Sr. and Marissa Abella who said the technology would solve and reduce the city’s waste.

Santos, however, mentioned that the WTE emits toxins known as dioxin which is undeniably harmful to people and the environment.

A summit will be held on January 21 to 23, inviting all barangay leaders and student leaders to participate and hopefully come up with an action plan for eco-waste management or the proper segregation of wastes and single-use plastic ban under Republic Act (RA 9003) or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

This will also be participated by the Interface Development Interventions (Idis) and Lunhaw awardees with a booth that would show green initiatives that can be replicated.