BAGUIO CITY – Barangays were urged anew to manage their own biodegradable wastes through segregation and home and backyard composting as part of their obligation under the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the city’s Environment Code.
General Services Officer Eugene Buyucan said the city as directed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong now strictly enforces said provisions of the laws designed to help the concerned government agencies and local governments address the garbage disposal concerns.
The GSO does not collect biodegradable wastes at present to encourage households and businesses to do their part in managing their compostable wastes.
Barangays that encounter difficulties in setting up their composting systems may request assistance from the GSO.
“We will evaluate if these barangays really have no means and capability to do their own composting and if so, we can assist them,” Buyucan said adding that they have available drums for requesting barangays or residents.
He said residents should practice composting and urban gardening in their homes because it does not only help reduce the volume of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes but is also beneficial for the homes.
He said a simple composting method would only require any container, big or medium-sized and can be plastic, wood or cement where biodegradable wastes can be stored.
“Just cover the refuse with a small amount of soil for drying and repeat the process. The compost can be used in one to two months for their backyard gardens,” he said.
Other methods such as the use of African night crawlers can also be employed.
The mayor at the start of his term urged residents and business owners in the city to adopt their own backyard composting methods and technologies to lessen the city’s biodegradable wastes and help the city which, although doing its best to maximize the operation of the Environmental Recycling System (ERS) machines stationed at the former dumpsite at Irisan, still needs the cooperation of residents and businessmen in easing the city’s waste burden.
Aside from collecting some 40 to 50 tons of biodegradable wastes from the different collection points in the city’s barangays, the local government is also collecting some 170 to 180 tons of non-biodegradable refuse in the barangays daily.
The city is still hauling out residual wastes to Urdaneta City. **Aileen P. Refuerzo
