BACOLOD City – The city government broke ground for the Recovery and Recycling Complex and Ecopark at the Bacolod Sanitary Landfill in Barangay Felisa here yesterday.
The project, according to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, is part of his eight-point agenda to establish a mechanized central materials recovery facility (MRF) equipped to process various types of recyclable materials, including plastic waste, biodegradable waste, glass, paper, and metal.
He said this pioneering project aims to address the city’s growing waste management challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.
As a highly urbanized center of economic development in Negros Occidental, Bacolod generates an increasing volume of waste, necessitating efficient systems to mitigate environmental impact, enhance resource recovery, and support a circular economy.
Mayor Benitez added the project seeks to maximize the recovery of recyclable materials, reduce landfill waste, and ensure the proper processing and recycling of recovered resources, as it aims to promote environmental sustainability through incentivized waste segregation and the reinforcement of circular economy programs.
The city contracted IPM Construction and Development Corp. (IPM-CDC) for the project with a total cost of P160 million for the phase 1.
Phase 1 will cover a 33.13-hectare site and consist of three key components:
* construction and site development of the MRF;
* supply and installation of furniture and equipment; and
* implementation of electrical and lighting systems.
The MRF facility and equipment will include a conveyor belt sorting line, integrated waste solutions (IWS) in MRF operations, baling of recyclables, tree trimming and yard waste disposal for recycling, and windrow composting.
The facility will also serve as a model for sustainable waste management and environmental responsibility in the region, setting a new standard for efficient waste processing and circular economy initiatives, said Mayor Benitez./PN
