CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Board's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources over the weekend officially declared the Holcim Geocycle system known as "Holcimables" of recycling solid waste a vital component of Capitol's Solid Waste Management Program.
Committee chairperson Board Member Nestor Tolentino formally filed the resolution on the adoption of the Holcimables, together with the motion urging local government units in Pampanga to use the system in their respective solid waste management programs.
In the Geocycle "co-processing" system, "Holcimables" like plastics (styrofoam, sando bags, cellophanes and foil packs), textile and rubber are segregated manually from non-biodegradable residuals on a "running dump" by authorized scavengers.
The sorters produce about 20 to 25 sacks of "Holcimables" weighing about 2.5 kilos to 5 kilos each per person per day, or some 2.5 metric tons for 1,000 sacks on the average. These are later baled using a baling machine courtesy of the Capitol, then hauled by Holcim for alternative fuel use and its "ash" as additive to concrete materials.
"This is the cheapest system that we have now. Unfortunately, it has not been declared officially, that is why the committee and this august body has been paralyzed in pushing for the necessary legislative measure. We now start in the province and with the measure, local government units should follow suit," Tolentino told Sun.Star Pampanga.
Tolentino cited as examples Mabalacat City, Mexico, Porac and Guagua, which are successful in using the Holcimables system of recycling.
"In fact, Mabalacat City even earned a P500,000 incentive from the EMB (Environmental Management Bureau) in its Holcimables program. These LGUs are able to come up with 60 percent of Holcimable plastics, that is why it is only the 40 percent residuals that are being brought to Kalangitan. Capitol has also provided them baling machines. The savings are good enough with this system," he added.
He noted that the Provincial Government has tried various methods in solid waste management, like waste to energy plants, but were never really effective and realized.
"We give away garbage trucks and carts, materials for MRFs and all what LGUs need for solid waste management but to no avail. With Holcimables, we are optimistic we could at least help in solving our garbage problem," Tolentino said.