City councilor wants junkshops regulated

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Ma. Nida Cabrera wants junkshops in the city regulated to facilitate the proper recycling of the so-called e-wastes.

E-wastes include, among others, damaged mobile phones, gadgets and appliances.

Cabrera said it is important that legislation is put in place because there are so-called ‘recyclers’ who process the wastes in a manner that is not healthy to humans.

“They start to process in their own system. They put chemicals, so risky kaayo and other members of the community do not know.  Unya ang ilang gigamit ilang ilabay sa sapa, it’s so risky for us,” she said.

Teodoro Locson Jr, President of the Cebu Common Treatment Facility, Inc (CCTFI), said these substances from e-wastes can even cause cancer and the risk goes higher as the city grows because the amount of e-wastes also increases.

Cabrera said consultations are ongoing and she intends to introduce a piece of legislation before the year ends.

At present, the city government is working on a partnership with CCTFI and a private company from Japan for a project that would process e-wastes safely.

Locson said company from Japan will provide the processing facility, considering that the country is one of the pioneers of the equipment.

Last year, a survey conducted by the Department of Chemistry of the University of San Carlos, showed that e-wastes or hazardous wastes are being mixed with municipal wastes.

“After it is mixed up, it will go to our final disposal. We have the result. There is really (a) mercury contamination,” Cabrera said.

She said the team also found mercury content in the plants and in the soil in sanitary landfills.

As an initial step, the city government has placed “recovery boxes” in malls and two pilot barangays – Hipodromo and Mabolo. — Mechelle P. Florita/JMO (FREEMAN)