Pact forged on QC garbage utilization

From "nuisance garbage" to quality cement.

This was the gist of a memorandum of agreement signed yesterday by Quezon City government and Union Cement Corp. (UCC) in the collection, transport and processing of tires found in garbage piles at the controlled Payatas controlled dump.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. turned over to Paul O’Callaghan, UCC chief operating officer, a spare tire in a symbolic kickoff the start of the project, which is in compliance with the Ecological Solid Management Act and the new Clean Air Act.

Also present during the ceremonies were Frederika Rentoy, head of the City Environmental Protection and Waste Management Office, former Vice Mayor Charito Planas, Albet Magalang from the Office of the President, city officials and councilors.

Under the agreement, UCC, based in Barangay Matictic, Norzagaray, Bulacan, will transport used tires from the Payatas staging area to their Bulacan plant.

The Quezon City government through Ret. Army Col. Roberto Jaymalin, head of the Payatas Operation Group, will collect used tires at the site.

Jaymalin said the project will rid the controlled dumpsite of "nuisance garbage" since tires do not decompose. Tires will be used in the cement kiln processing.

Earlier, Belmonte turned over to Barangay Holy Spirit officials a newly completed materials recovery facility, where garbage is segregated, recycled and transformed into fertilizer. — Perseus Echeminada