PH’s first automated MRF launched
THE country’s first automated materials recovery facility (MRF) that uses state-of-the-art equipment for waste segregation and storage was recently inaugurated in Cebu.
It was launched by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PWS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Prime Infra, in response to the increasing demand for proper waste management and resource recovery solutions in industrialized and fast-growing cities in the Philippines. PWS’ model is based on Prime Infra’s overall objective to convert recovered resources into sustainable fuels.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga acknowledged that the launch was “groundbreaking.” She advocated that the solid waste management sector be regarded as an industry with efficiencies that need to scale.
All the “moving parts” have to be put on the table such as “local governance, environmental management … private investment with government and aligned with government in addressing these particular issues,” she said.
The DENR secretary also lauded the “social impact of this transition in solid waste management technology” with PWS incorporating the informal waste picker sector into the process.
PWS procured equipment from Europe and Asia such as vibrating sieves, baler systems, magnetic and separators. It also purchased an air density separator to maximize resource recovery leading to landfill avoidance, thus preventing over 15,000 tons of methane emissions per annum.
Cara Peralta, Prime Infra’s market sector lead, said that the MRF will sort, segregate and process materials beyond its own site to “cities or areas in need of proper waste disposal facilities.” She identified another goal: “to enhance our process flow and essentially go back to our original objective of turning waste into sustainable fuels to further reduce methane emissions.”
PWS plans to make the facility at par with world-class MRFs in other developed countries like Singapore. It is also expanding its operations by developing similar facilities across the country.