City to spend P8M for 2 composting facilities

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City is set to allocate P8 million to cover the cost of establishing composting facilities in the northern and southern parts of the city.

In last week’s city council session, the Resolution authored by Committee on Parks and Playground, Ecology and Environmental Management chairman councilor Nestor Archival allotting P8 million for the composting projects was approved.

The allocation was charged against the city’s calamity funds due to the urgency of the matter.

According to the resolution the composting sites will serve as alternative solution to the problem of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.

He said a composting site is to be established and encouraged since this is a simple technology and does not require intensive labor but is seen to reduce organic waste significantly.

“Considering that almost 400 tons of garbage is produced everyday, this can help solve the problem concerning dumpsites and landfills and further promote health and nutrients to the soil,” Archival said.

The allocation was pursuant to an earlier Resolution made by the City Disaster and Coordinating Council.

They already started establishing a composting facility at the Viaduct of the South Road Properties with 14 compost beds.

Meanwhile the composting site for the northern area will be at the City Agricultural Nursery at the North Reclamation Area.

The sanitary landfill is currently undergoing rehabilitation due to a recent fire.

The privatization of its operations and management is also underway.

Composting is nature’s process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost. Basically, backyard composting is an acceleration of the same process nature uses.

By composting the organic waste the nutrients are returned back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue.

Finished compost looks like soil —dark brown, crumbly and smells like a forest floor. —Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP (THE FREEMAN)