Companies to put up own material recovery facilities?

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City officials now plans to let the city council draft an ordinance that will mandate business establishments in the city to come up with their own material recovery facilities.

Environmental consultant lawyer Benjamin Cabrido yesterday said he will endorse to Councilor Benjamin Basiga, the committee chairman on solid waste and management, this proposal so that he can draft an ordinance that will require business establishments to put up their own MRFs.

Cabrido said big business establishments in the city will be obliged to put up an MRF because it would become a requirement when renewing business permits.

He said an MRF will cost about P100,000 and the city will probably provide business establishments with technical assistance.

Businesses are also being urged to engage in organic farming.

Farm products that are harvested from these organic farms can be displayed and be bought easily as the city will require malls and public markets to provide stalls for organic farm products.

At present, organic farming is now being practiced at the old public market upon the initiative of market administrator Mousolini Soliva.

Once the MRF of establishments will be realized, Cabrido said collected waste each day will be reduced by 50-60 percent.

Cabrido also said 60 percent of the waste in the city come from big establishments. - THE FREEMAN