Waste management and recycling advocates in South Cotabato province are taking their campaign to a higher level as they embark on a two-day fair on recyclable wastes this week in nearby Koronadal City.
Nency Acain, senior environment management specialist of the South Cotabato Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), said Monday they expect to further drum up public support and awareness on recycling and proper waste management practices in the province through the upcoming 3rd Recyclable Wastes Fair.
The local government-led fair, which is held every two years, is slated on Nov. 22-23 at the Productivity and Technology (ProTech) Center in Koronadal City.
She said among the event’s highlights will be the massive buying of various recyclable wastes materials, especially of electronic and computer wastes or e-wastes, that will be participated in by six major recycling and junk shops based Koronadal City, Polomolok town in South Cotabato and in this city.
“We launched the fair to help unload our households and business establishments of various recyclable wastes that are not accommodated regularly by local junk shops, among them our e-wastes,” Acain said in a press conference.
During the fair’s launching in 2008, she said participating junk shops purchased a total of 12 tons of recyclable wastes from local residents and establishments.
In 2010, she said the total haul increased to 26 tons of recyclable wastes and scraps composed mostly of e-wastes like computer monitors, central processing units, keyboards and other related materials.
“We have not yet set an exact target for this year’s event but we’re expecting a higher turnout than the previous years,” she said.
Aside from the two-day buying of recyclable wastes, Acain said they will launch an exhibit and competition of various recycled products that were made through the technologies adopted by the province’s model public schools in solid waste management (SWM) implementation.
She said they will hold quiz bee for elementary and secondary students and a series of public information and education activities on recycling and proper waste management.
Acain said they will showcase during the event the province’s cluster sanitary landfill in Barangay Colongulo in Surallah town, which is considered as the first of its kind in the entire country.
The landfill, which serves six municipalities in the province’s upper valley area, was recently chosen as among the top 14 finalists in this year’s prestigious Galing Pook search for innovative local government practices.
Engr. Elbee Balucanag, PEMO environmental management specialist, said the local government will also give recognition to 10 public elementary and secondary schools within the province’s 10 towns and lone city that were shortlisted for this year’s search for model schools in SWM implementation.
The provincial government has set aside cash grants amounting to a total of P160,000 as incentives for the winning schools and the participating entries, she said. [Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews]
0 Comments
Oldest