Plastic recycling plant shows profit

CEBU, Philippines - In Mandaue City, barangay Pagsabungan’s plastic recycling plant is now making money from the bunker fuel it produces from recycled cellophane and plastic bags.

The plant sells the fuel to ship owners.

Former barangay captain now assistant city Engineer Andres Suson said the volume of garbage in his barangay has dipped because of the presence of the plant.

He said the barangay started operating the P1.8 million facility two months ago.

The plastic it recycles comes from households and malls.

Each of the 4,000 households in the barangay has its own trash bins and segregates biodegradable waste, non-biodegrable waste, and hazardous waste.

Asterio Suson, the acting captain of barangay Pagsabungan, has promised to continue the projects left behind by his cousin who is now the assistant city engineer.

Pagsabungan placed second in the cleanest barangay contest in last year’s “Sulong Mandaue Program” while barangay Canduman came out the champion. 

Pagsabungan and Canduman are pilot areas for this plastic recycling plan and it will soon be replicated in the other barangays in the city.

The facility is composed of a shredding machine, a heating chamber, and the finished product  called “bunker fuel” is stocked in a condenser.

Suson said the aim is not only to gain income from the facility but also to keep his barangay clean and free from flooding.

“Ang atong goal ani nga wa nay basura makita sa gawas ug gamay na lang malabay sa dumpsite,” Suson said.

He said the facility is a great help to the barangay because the revenue it makes from the bunker fuel goes back to the barangay in the form of basic services.

The barangay also earns income from biodegradable waste which it converts into fertilizer and sells this for P200 per sack.

The fertilizer is being used in the barangay’s 1,500-square meter organic garden.

Suson said the barangay has its own 15 eco-wardens who are tasked to implement the city’s solid waste management program. (FREEMAN)