Proposed Integrated Material Recovery Facilities in Cebu City

A PRIVATE company, Evergreen Labs Philippines, submitted an unsolicited proposal build five integrated material recovery facilities (MRFs). in selected barangays in Cebu City. This initiative aims to address the urgent need for effective waste management solutions in the city.

Here’s what you need to know about the proposal and its potential impact.

Overview of the proposal

Investment: Valued at P53 million, the project aims to strategically locate the MRFs to optimize waste diversion and recycling efforts.

Technology use: Evergreen Labs plans to use advanced technology solutions from ReForm Plastic, including:

Advantages of the MRFs

According to the proposal, the establishment of these MRFs will bring several important benefits:

Waste diversion: The facilities are intended to significantly reduce waste entering landfills and promote a more sustainable waste management system.

Environmental impact: By processing waste efficiently, MRFs will help reduce the environmental impacts associated with improper waste handling.

Community Involvement: The project aims to promote local involvement and enable communities to participate in sustainable waste management practices.

Economic opportunities: The MRFs are expected to create jobs and boost the local economy through the sale of recycled products such as composite panels and concrete aggregates.

Facility features

Each MRF is custom designed for the respective barangay and includes:

• A special floor area of ​​450 square meters.

• A container office unit and a rainwater collection system.

• Advanced processing and sorting equipment, including conveyor systems, balers, shredders and crushers.

• A computer system for digital monitoring.

• Semi-automated sorting lines to improve waste separation efficiency.

Additional infrastructure

To support the waste management process, the project will introduce 35 electric three-wheelers for waste collection and transportation, reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional waste transportation methods.

Legislative process and community input

During the regular session of the Cebu City Council on October 23, 2024, City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera requested Evergreen Labs to revise their proposal to include more background information on the company, including its financial strength.

Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos also invited the proposer to a board meeting on December 4 to present the proposal in detail.

The current landscape of waste management

Councilor Joel Garganera highlighted that Cebu City is currently operating a small-scale MRF in Barangay Kalunasan. However, the only fully operational facility is in Kalunasan, while other barangays such as Basak San Nicolas are in the process of setting up their MRFs.

Future initiatives

Councilor Rey Gealon has passed a resolution urging Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to fully implement a P53 million grant from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the establishment of three MRFs.

Gealon also stressed the importance of creating a detailed action plan for functional MRFs in all barangays and called for a Solid Waste Management Summit to develop effective solutions to the city’s waste management challenges. (SunStar Cebu)