METRO CLARK Waste Management Corporation (MCWM) said Wednesday that it is investing P300 million to expand its engineered sanitary landfill in Sitio Kalangitan, Clark.
In a statement, MCWM said that it is planning to add seven more hectares to its facility in the Clark Special Economic Zone. The expansion of the sanitary landfill is targeted for completion this year.
It added that it is building an additional leachate treatment plant for waste by-products, a separate disposal cell for industrial waste, and investing in additional vehicles and equipment.
“It is very gratifying to us that we can continue to provide such an essential service to our clients; and that they don’t need to worry about the proper disposal of their waste,” MCWM Executive Vice-President and General Manager Vicky E. Gaetos said in a statement.
MCWM said that, despite the public health emergency, it processed 20% more waste last year.
In its statement, the company said it submitted an “unsolicited proposal to the government” for a $200-million integrated waste management system in Sitio Kalangitan. The investment will be fully funded by the international consortium to which MCWM belongs.
“The system will employ proven globally proven technologies involving waste sorting, and the construction of a 35 MW waste-to-energy plant, all of which will effectively expand the landfill’s capacity for another 50 years,” MCWM said.
It added that it continues to implement strict on-site protocols to ensure the safety of its workers. Some of these measures include the regular and frequent disinfection of waste collection trucks and official company vehicles and the use of personal protective equipment for its staff, including hospital-grade gear for personnel inspecting medical waste.
On its website, MCWM claims to be the country’s sole sanitary landfill operator with an ISO certification for landfill management, environmental compliance and operational health and safety.
Two weeks ago, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered its regional offices to close all open dumpsites by next month. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 defines open dumpsites as those where solid waste is deposited without planning and consideration for environmental and health standards. They are illegal to establish or operate. — Angelica Y. Yang
