ADB, P&G to develop solid waste power project in Phl

MANILA, Philippines – Consumer goods multinational Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are teaming up to develop in the Philippines an energy source powered by solid waste.

The two are looking at the possibility of building “waste-to-worth” energy plants in the Philippines that will generate up to two megawatts (MW) of power using solid waste collected from homes and businesses, an ADB executive said.

ADB investment specialist Jose Manuel Limjap said the disposal of municipal solid waste is a serious environmental and social challenge.

“This is the kind of innovative project that brings the public and private sectors together to tackle a problem seen throughout the developing world. Successfully piloting an integrated solid waste management system means it could be replicated in other parts of the world,” Limjap added.

Around 6,700 tons of solid waste is generated every day in Metro Manila alone, but only 720 tons are recycled or composted.

The rest are hauled to dump sites, openly burned or dumped illegally on private land, in rivers, creeks, or in Manila Bay. This has led to serious environmental problems such as air pollution and soil and groundwater contamination.

The project aims to eliminate the need for landfill, as less than one percent of the waste is expected to remain after processing, and this will mostly be material that may be recycled for use in products like asphalt.

ADB has approved a $385,000 technical assistance plan, equivalent to 60 percent of the total cost, to help determine the viability and sustainability of waste-to-energy projects. If deemed viable and sustainable, a lead waste-to-energy plant will be piloted in the Philippines by 2016.

The project further aims to develop the municipal solid waste management system into a profitable and flexible business model and supply chain for the collection and treatment of municipal solid waste.

If proven successful, it is hoped that the model will be replicated in other areas with such a need. P&G, which manufactures personal care and household cleaning products, is conducting these studies to further its long-term sustainability vision of having zero consumer or manufacturing waste go to landfills.