Government turns to nuclear tech to curb plastic pollution

MANILA, Philippines — With the Philippines now ranked among the world’s top plastic polluters, the government is betting big on nuclear technology to address the country’s waste crisis.

The Philippines yesterday convened a high-level forum on the use of nuclear technology for controlling pollution (NUTEC Plastics) launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“Plastic pollution is emblematic of this new era of challenges: global in scale, persistent in impact and deeply entangled with the way economies grow,” President Marcos said in a speech yesterday as he welcomed IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi.

Tackling the country’s waste problem demands more than regulation and advocacy but also technology that is “credible, scalable and grounded in rigorous science,” Marcos said.

The IAEA’s NUTEC Plastics uses radiation to transform discarded plastics into stronger materials suitable for recycling, aiming to help countries cut the amount of plastic waste generated.

The Philippines currently ranks as the world’s third-largest source of plastic pollution, generating 2.7 million metric tons of waste annually, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

“Its impact is a serious blow in our quest to build smarter and safer communities, as unmitigated pollution is undeniably one of the root causes of failure to address natural hazards,” DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said.

In line with the NUTEC Plastics initiative, the DOST’s Philippine Nuclear Research Institute has developed the post-radiation reactive extrusion of plastic wastes or PREx project.

Through PREx, low-value wastes like plastic packaging and containers are being transformed into durable and commercially viable materials such as tiles and bricks.

“With radiation, you can recycle without using solvents and other chemicals that create additional problems. And this, in essence, is what nuclear technology is all about,” IAEA’s Grossi said.

This year, the Philippines returned to the IAEA’s policy-making Board of Governors, enabling the country to help shape global nuclear policies and strengthen international cooperation.

With the election, the Philippines is expected to gain technical support in nuclear medicine, agriculture, food security and energy, while reinforcing its position as a responsible nuclear partner.