LUBAO, Pampanga, Philippines — A $63-million waste-to-power facility, a first in the country, will soon rise in this town to solve the garbage problem of the province.
Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and Lubao Mayor Mylyn Cayabyab on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Pampanga Green Management Inc. (PGMI) and the MacKay Green Energy, Inc. to set up the facility that will convert the province’s garbage into electricity.
The facility will treat Pampanga’s solid waste and use the refuse derived fiber to produce renewable energy. At least 800 metric tons of garbage a day will go through combustion to generate 22 megawatts of electricity, enough to energize 110,000 homes at the rate of one megawatt for every 5,000 houses.
The technology makes use of revolutionary turbines which are under contract in 18 different countries.
“We shall process a guaranteed 800 metric tons of solid waste a day which requires no segregation as this will be done on site,” said James Mackay, chairman of the Pampanga Green Management Inc. (PGMI).
Citing the contract as a landmark agreement, Mackay described the technology as “the most responsible way to treat municipal solid waste.”
“With our system, there will be no longer any need for landfills. With our facility you can be guaranteed to be safe from any leachate, which is very hazardous. Methane issues will no longer be a problem,” Mackay said.
He cited the following benefits of the technology: No more need for landfills as it is able to process all kinds of waste; able to mine existing landfills; no effluent stream; no leachate, no methane; production of non-fossilized fuel; no pollutants, zero emission; generation of electricity; and production of by-products such as fertilizer.
Mackay explained that the turbine process results into clean air since the combustion chamber only happens externally.
Governor Pineda said she welcomes the benefits to be brought to the province, the environment and its people. She mentioned the absence of leachate, methane and other pollutants as particularly good for the health of the people of Pampanga.
“The livelihood to be generated for initially some 300 persons for every 800 MT of municipal solid waste and the education for children instead of having them scavenge for waste for a fee are very good benefits which we look forward to enjoying,” Pineda said.
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By: Mark Anthony N. Manuel and Franco G. Regala Lubao
Source: Manila Bulletin,
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