Maynilad pioneers use of biosolids for bricks production
WEST ZONE concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has found another sustainable use for biosolids—the byproduct of the septage treatment process—with its “Bio-Bricks Project,” which involves converting biosolids into bricks that the company will utilize for constructing its facilities.
Bio-bricks are lightweight, cementlike materials that can be safely used as substitute for ordinary hollow blocks. During the project’s initial run, Maynilad plans to produce an initial 372,000 pieces of bio-bricks from an ECO Hub inside the company’s CAMANA Water Reclamation Facility in Caloocan. These will be used for building perimeter fences for Maynilad’s water and wastewater treatment plants, as well as non-load bearing structures for its various offices and facilities.
To produce the bio-bricks, Maynilad is partnering with GA Nexuz,Inc., a forerunner in using sustainable and green technologies in its products and services. Some of its projects include the construction of commercial buildings and houses using recycled plastics.
Maynilad produces around 23,000 cubic meters of biosolids annually. Biosolids are organic materials resulting from the treatment of septage collected from household septic tanks, and Maynilad typically has these biosolids hauled out for conversion to fertilizer or soil conditioner. With the “Bio-Bricks Project,” the company has established another means for biosolids to be used in a beneficial way, thus supporting its move towards a circular economy where all resources are reused and maximized.
“Besides contributing to the reduction of our carbon footprint, this project also improves operational efficiency, as it will help manage costs for the hauling and disposal of biosolids. Ultimately, this proves that the sustainability measures we apply to our operations can translate to actual business gains,” said Atty. Roel S. Espiritu, head of Maynilad’s Quality, Sustainability and Resiliency division.
Maynilad has been actively implementing environmental and sustainability initiatives in line with its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2037. Among these are its construction of solar farms to run facilities at La Mesa Compound, gradual shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, construction of NEW WATER facilities that convert wastewater to potable water, and regular reforestation activities in vital watersheds, among others.