CARMEN COPPER JOINS CLEANUP DRIVE

Nationwide cleanup in January was held in observance of the Zero Waste Month, 17th year of Republic Act 9003 Over 50 residents helped Carmen Copper workers in the cleanup that generated 647.25 kilos of combined wastes

Carmen Copper Corp., in partnership with the residents of Barangay Cantabaco, Toledo City, Cebu joined a nationwide cleanup drive last Jan. 20.

The activity was organized in observance of the Zero Waste Month and in celebration of the 17th anniversary of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas invited Carmen Copper, among other partners in the region, to participate in the activity as part of the continuing national cleanup that started last September 2016.

“This endeavor is aimed to reinforce the implementation of RA 9003, particularly at the grassroots level. The activity targets to reach all areas in the country, especially those that were frequently reported by basura patrollers to be dumped with trash and other identified dirty areas,” EMB 7 Director William P. Cuñado told its partners.

Carmen Copper chose the Cantabaco River for the activity where it has an existing drive against illegal dumping of garbage.

The company, in partnership with the Hugpong Cantabacoanon para sa Kinaiyahan (HCK), has been holding cleanup in the area every quarter.

HCK is a company-assisted organization in barangay Cantabaco and a partner in the preservation and protection of the environment in this community.

More than 50 residents were mobilized to join Carmen Copper employees in the cleanup that generated a total of 647.25 kilos of combined biodegradable (136.25 kg.), non-biodegradable (497.5 kg.) and recyclable (13.5 kg.) wastes. This is about half of the waste generated during the last cleanup in September 2016.

Carmen Copper hopes that a reduced volume of garbage will be collected in future cleanup activities to maintain the cleanliness of the Cantabaco River and to avoid overflowing, flashflood and water contamination considering the river is close to a spring where most residents source their water for washing and drinking.

Carmen Copper Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp.