Waste-to-energy facility pushed

CEBU, Philippines - The construction of the Waste-to-Energy Facility through Build-Operate-Transfer scheme in Lapu-Lapu City has been pushed by the City Solid Waste Management Board.

The city government needs P50 million to finance the construction of the facility.

City Solid Waste Management Board Head Engr. Roderico Tagaan said the estimated budget could be easily recovered through the savings it would have from payments to a private landfill plus future share of revenues from the operation of the facility.

The projected population of Lapu-Lapu City in the year 2023 will reach a million mark, said Tagaan.

Each year, he added, there is an estimated 4.5 percent increase of population that would mean an increase of 4.5 percent waste. But this could also mean added economic activities with inflow of investments to the city.

The present capacity of the city’s Material Recovery Facility will not be enough to handle such wastes, Tagaan added.

Records at the Solid Waste Management Board disclosed that tons of garbage are collected per day at approximately 50 to 60 tons.

However, the processed wastes per day are only five to six tons.

The tons of mixed wastes needed to be transferred to landfill are approximately 42 to 45 tons per day.

A private sanitary landfill is imposing tipping fee per ton, including hauling, of P1,350.

The city government of Lapu-Lapu allocates P56,700 to P68,750 per day for the transfer of the wastes to private sanitary landfill.

With the said figure, the city government of Lapu-Lapu is allocating P1,700,000 to P1,822,500 per month and P20,412,000 to P21,870,000 per year for the waste disposal.

“Coming up with a Waste-to-Energy Facility through  Build-Operate-Transfer scheme from the private sectors will give a big boost to the city’s financial standing,” said Tagaan.

Having this technology, the problem on final disposal system is answered and will allow the city to fully close its existing controlled dumpsite in compliance to Republic Act 9003, he added. — Jose P. Sollano (FREEMAN)