By Reychemver Credo

War on Waste (WOW) Negros Oriental decries the move of the Sangguniang Panlungsod approving an ordinance to fund incineration technologies.

In a social media post by the said environment group, campaign against the purchase of incineration machineries surfaced recently due to its “not long-term sustainable solution.”

According to Merci Ferrer, War on Waste (WOW) Negros Oriental convenor, the local government is seeking [pyrolysis and gasification] technologies as a “quick fix,” disregarding its threats to environment and public health.

Stated in the City Development Council Executive Committee Resolution No. 17 series of 2020, City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo requested for the deliberation and approval of Php22-million additional appropriation to fund the said project proposed by Engr. Chilvier Patrimonio, officer-in-charge of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and Engr. Leticia Duran, project manager of Eco Park & Solid Waste Processing Facility.

The project requested to fund the purchase of one set of pyrolysis gasification process with environment pollution control devices (EPCD) with two sets of sorting conveyors and with wet and dry scrubbers.

Moreover, the resolution detailed that the said machinery is vital to “maximize the segregation and achieve zero waste target upon processing daily wastes (biodegradable, non-biodegradable and residuals) that will arrive at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), wastes will go through the conveyors to be sorted by ‘selected scavengers’ and stored in different cells identified for specific wastes.”

However, unlike traditional combustion processes, pyrolysis and gasification, despite widely used in several industries, primarily heat up waste with little to no added air, forming gases that contain compounds depending on the fuel composition and leaving another harmful residuals and toxic ash.

“Unfortunately, they [local government] turned a blind eye to the ongoing zero waste efforts in five barangays in Dumaguete City deciding to invest in a centralized MRF as well as continuously collecting mixed waste from households and businesses,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer cited that pursuing the project undermines the zero waste work being done by five coastal barangays of the city, namely: Barangay Piapi, Barangay Looc, Barangay Bantayan, Barangay Banilad and Barangay Calindagan.

Movements against waste incineration by environment groups and advocates continue in the city, at the moment. | Via Reychemver Credo