City eyes emergency purchase of shredders

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is considering the emergency purchase of new garbage shredders after seeing the efficiency of a unit lent by Bacolod-based inventor-businessman Ramon Uy, as the city grapples with mounting waste management challenges.

The possible acquisition comes as Cebu City intensifies its waste segregation drive following the temporary closure of the Binaliw landfill, an event that exposed weaknesses in the city’s disposal system.

Archival personally inspected operations at the Carbon Public Market and in Barangay Kamputhaw, where the borrowed shredder reduced 16 sacks of garbage to just two sacks for final disposal.

“Okay kaayo,” the mayor told The Freeman, noting that the city’s existing shredders are significantly less efficient than the Bacolod-made unit. He said additional shredders may be procured on an emergency basis to sustain the city’s segregation and composting efforts in the barangays.

In a separate interview, City Agriculture Department (CAD) Assistant Head Arlie Gesta said he was not aware of the specific shredders mentioned by Archival but clarified that those purchased during his term as CAD chief remain operational. He acknowledged, however, that the Bacolod units are far more efficient, meeting their target of shredding 20 tons of waste daily at the Carbon Public Market.

Under City Agriculturist Joey Baclayon, with assistance from Gesta, the CAD continues to process biodegradable waste into organic compost at the department’s plant nursery. The compost will be distributed to local farmers to help improve soil quality and boost food production.

The closure of the Binaliw landfill forced the city to confront its heavy reliance on disposal sites and highlighted the urgent need for stronger waste segregation at the source. By linking waste management with sustainable agriculture, Cebu City is adopting a circular approach that converts biodegradable waste into valuable farm inputs.

Archival also demonstrated proper waste segregation alongside parents and students from the John Dewey School for Children yesterday, underscoring the importance of community participation in building a cleaner and greener city.

City officials stressed that proper segregation is a shared responsibility, adding that the Binaliw crisis has accelerated Cebu City’s push for waste reduction, composting, and food security.

What began as an emergency response is now evolving into a long-term strategy—reducing reliance on landfills, investing in efficient shredding technology, and strengthening community engagement in sustainable practices.