Waste-to-energy project for Davao City too costly for local budget

THE PROPOSED wasteto-energy (WTE) project for Davao City is now being considered for funding at the national level as the cost is too high for the local government’s budget. “The initial discussion was for the city government to participate in the WTE project but when I saw the numbers, it was very expensive for the city to get a loan for the WTE considering we have other priority projects as a developing city,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said, but did not give an estimated cost. The mayor recently led a delegation to Japan to see solid waste management programs and other facilities such as the Hiagari Recycling Center, Kougasaki WTE Plant, Hibikinada Sanitary Landfill, and Kitakyushu Eco-farm and Wind Town. “Initially I declined the project but the discussion is now between Japan Prime Minister (Shinzō) Abe and President (Rodrigo R.) Duterte, so while the city will continue with its participation the money will now come from the country’s private sector and the Japanese government,” she said. The city has been considering WTE as one of the long-term solid waste management solutions. A study conducted by the University of Mindanao shows that the city’s waste materials, including plastics and paper, have a calorific value of 1372 kcal or heat unit. In 2015, the city produced 916 tons of waste daily and this is expected to rise to 1,053 tons daily by 2021 as a result of an increase in the city’s population and economic activities. The city’s landfill is expected to be filled up in the next three years. The WTE project was met with skepticism by environmental groups, noting that it was not only very expensive but harmful to the environment. —