Environmental group urges sanctions on semi-conductor firm, wood scrap dealer

An environmental group is urging government to impose sanctions on a semi-conductor firm and a wood scrap dealer for what was described as an illegal disposal of non-biodegradable plastic wastes.

The charge has been denied by the two companies which claimed that they have been operating within the boundaries of their licenses issued by the government.

In making the accusation, the Earth Savers Movement (ESM) cited a two-month study conducted by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) which reported that Amkor Technology Phils. has been disposing of 65 tons of plastic mold runners by turning it over to La Felonila, a recyclable wood buy-back station based in San Pedro, Laguna.

According to ESM secretary-general Roger Birosel, La Felonila is not allowed to process plastic wastes and the practice of Amkor to deliver the mold runners violates a 2005 memorandum issued by the National Solid Waste Commission that requires the processing of such wastes, instead of direct disposal, into reusable forms like concrete hollow blocks.

He added that the practice of the two firms violates a 2005 order of the Environmental Management Bureau prohibiting semi-conductor companies from contracting out the hauling or collection of their wastes to private firms that do not operate recycling facilities including a mechanized crusher.

In defense of its activities, La Felonila said its certificate of non-coverage has been amended to include mold runners to the list of scrapped materials allowed to be hauled, bought and sold by the firm. Birosel said such amendment is "mysterious" and was made only after the LLDA investigation.

La Felonila further claimed that the mold runners from Amkor were crushed and reused to make concrete triangles for fighting cocks, although the ESM official described this as "simply unbelievable".

"Not only is such claim an admission of violating its CNC, but it is too incredible considering that to recycle 65 tons of mold runners monthly, thousands of workers and huge amounts of cement, gravel and sand are required, and La Felonila does not have these," Birosel added.