City mulls on-site composting of market wastes
The Iloilo City Solid Waste Management Board passed Resolution No. 31, series of 2009 on November 17 by approving a project on on-site composting of market wastes at the different public markets of this city.
Project proponent, Engr. Raul Gallo of the Office of Public Services said the onsite composting is an actual compliance of Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 on waste diversion and reduction and Republic Act 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009 stabilization of the greenhouse gas concentration and methane gas emission.
Markets are major source of biodegradable wastes that account for some 16 percent of the total waste generation in Iloilo City. The project is expected to reduce the volume of market wastes delivered to the Calajunan dumpsite, Gallo said.
It will also mitigate the cause of climate change by reducing the volume of greenhouse gas emission.
More than 170 metric tons of garbage is being collected every day and the bulk of garbage came from the seven public markets of the city. With composting onsite, it is estimated that some 20 metric tons of biodegradable wastes from the markets can be made into composts.
The composting project will also prolong the life of the Calajunan dumpsite caused by the reduction of garbage delivered.
Composts are most helpful to plants and other agricultural crops, the propagation of vermiculture and fishfoods.
Gallo said the technical working group is eyeing the pilot testing area at the Iloilo terminal market and at the Jaro big market. A composting shredder at the Calajunan dumpsite will be transferred to the terminal market soon while the Jaro market has its own shredder in place.
Market wastes at the other market in Jaro district will be brought to the big market for composting. Other district markets will also have their own composting equipment by next year.
Operation of the onsite market waste composting project will be started before the end of November, Gallo said.
By Lydia C. Pendon
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