Didipio workers trained on waste reduction
KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya: The Didipio Mine operating in this upland rich in gold and copper deposits will continue to train its employees and members of the surrounding community on how to use the latest technologies in waste reduction.
The training is in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) with participants from the mining sector, government and farmers associations.
Lawyer Joan Adaci-Cattiling, Didipio Mine president and External Affairs and Social Performance general manager, said the company is bent on training its employees and surrounding community members on the use, operation, and maintenance of the bioreactor and plastic densifier technologies.
Adaci-Cattiling said the training started with the company’s Mine Environmental Protection and Enhancement Office personnel and the Didipio Corp. environment office.
The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office in this town, the Tukod Kitaguwan Organic Producers Association (TKOPA), and the DoST Industrial Technology Development Institute in the province also joined the training.
According to the DoST, the Bioreactor and
Styro-Plastic Densifier Machines will help the Didipio Mine transform biodegradable waste into soil-enriching compost and process nonbiodegradable wastes into usable items.
Adaci-Cattiling said the company has committed to donate a bioreactor machine to the TKOPA as a source of their members’ livelihood.
She said the Didipio Mine’s goal for a zero-waste-to-landfill will soon be achieved with the commissioning of the plastic densifier machine that will transform waste styrofoam and plastics into usable items such as plant boxes, tabletops, chairs and bricks.
“These waste-to-resource initiatives will help increase the lifespan of the Didipio Mine’s sanitary landfill and improve its solid waste management program,” Adaci-Cattiling added.
OceanaGold Philippines Inc. operates the Didipio Mine Gold and Copper Project under the renewed financial or technical assistance agreement or FTAA issued by the Philippine government to extract minerals for another 25 years.