CAPAS, Tarlac -- The country’s lone-engineered sanitary landfill continues to boost its operational capabilities aimed at adapting to the new normal set-up in waste management and disposal.
Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC) has poured in millions in capital investments for additional improvements inside its 100-hectare facility in Sitio Kalangitan in Capas, Tarlac, ranging from additional concrete roads, waste treatment and disposal facilities and its fleet of transport and heavy equipment.
MCWMC President and Chief Executive Officer Rufo Colayco said that “these continuing developments and facilities improvements are integral to Metro Clark’s overall development program.”
“As we adapt our operations to the new normal brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, our ongoing infrastructure developments and investments are all geared towards ensuring that Metro Clark continues to provide our world-class service to our local government units and other clients while protecting further the environment and ultimately, the public’s health,” said Colayco, pointing out that efficient and environmentally friendly waste disposal have been key to Metro Clark’s steady growth over the past decade.
Almost simultaneously, Metro Clark’s “big ticket” on-site key disposal facility development projects were implemented early 2020, up until the onset of the third quarter this year.
These include the Leachate Treatment Plant (reed bed) at a cost of P70 million, earth-moving works for the seven-hectare cell expansion, P50 million, the transfer yard and workshop with a combined area of almost a hectare, P43 million.
Aside from this, similar road construction projects within the Kalangitan facility are currently undertaken by MCWMC. The project cost is P30 million.
Colayco said that these projects are all programmed to better serve Metro Clark’s expanding market and lately, to cater to the current demands of the new normal.
“We owe it to our clientele as well as stakeholders. These investments in infrastructure and on-site developments are all part of our commitment to continuously provide efficiency in our waste management and disposal service. As they steadily rely on our world-class brand of service and efficiency,” Colayco said.
From the main disposal facility to logistics and equipment maintenance, Metro Clark ensures that the 100-hectare sanitary landfill operations are safe, environment-friendly and at par with the global standards.
Meanwhile, Vicky Gaetos, Metro Clark’s executive vice president, disclosed that more local government units in Central Luzon and some provinces in the Northern part of Luzon are disposing of municipal wastes in Metro Clark’s engineered sanitary landfill during the Covid-19 lockdowns and quarantine period.
“Clearly, more and more LGUs (local government units) and other industrial and commercial centers have benefitted from our efficient and environment-friendly facilities. That’s why we continue to grow our market in the region,” Gaetos said.
Gaetos added that the Kalangitan waste disposal facility is more than ready to accommodate larger volumes of wastes as the company continues to expand its on-site waste management capacity as well as adapting to the new normal operational protocols.
“In hindsight, Metro Clark’s decision to build a seven-kilometer concrete has paid off. Its construction and operation cut down the traveling time from the landfill to MacArthur Highway from one hour to 25 minutes. Hence, more trucks reduced the hauling time by one half. This is not only true for MCWM trucks but also those from our clients as well,” Gaetos said.
The access road project, bankrolled by Metro Clark, traverses several barangays along Susuba-Mayamot Provincial Road, Capas, Tarlac, and was paved and concreted in 2018 as the access road directly to the landfill.
Waste disposal operations under the “new normal”
Metro Clark has also embarked on on-site facilities and machinery improvements dubbed “Adaptive to New Normal Operations, ” adherence to health and safety-related protocols to prevent any transmission of Covid-19, such as mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) for personnel, strict social distancing in offices and other on-site facilities are being practiced at all times.
On waste being brought to Metro Clark’s Kalangitan facility, VP-Administration and head of Human Resource Victor O. Hontiveros of MCWM said that there is now a more detailed inquiry and inspection of waste, especially from new clients.
“This is to determine if the waste the client declares falls under the parameters set by the Environment Management Bureau and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)”, Hontiveros said.
He said that the standard washing protocol of trucks after the disposal of residual waste is being enforced more stringently. Trucks (both client and company-owned) are not allowed out unless they are clean, according to the standards set by the Company Health and Safety group.
Where the company vehicles and personnel are used for picking up and transporting the residual waste, the company has standards that personnel must adhere to.
PPEs must be worn at all times except when the crew needs to eat or relieve themselves. They must maintain distancing when coming to client areas for pick up. The normal covering of the bins is accomplished without coming into contact with the waste.
These are just a few measures that we have been implementing since the start of the lockdowns in mid-March. The company, according to Hontiveros, has always been using sanitary and hygienic protocols. Now, there have been a few added safety protocols per the additional requirements of the Department of Health/DENR safety memoranda.
The Metro Clark engineered sanitary landfill is the only disposal facility in the country with triple ISO Certificates, namely ISO 9001 QMS (Quality Management Systems); 14001 EMS (Environmental Management Systems); 45001 OSHMS (Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems) certified.