SAN MIGUEL Corp. (SMC) is buying more plastic wastes to fuel its cement plants to help in managing the country’s solid wastes and generate jobs as the pandemic crisis goes on.
“It’s a more environment-friendly and sustainable alternative to using traditional fuels,” said Ramon S. Ang, president and chief operating officer of SMC, in a statement on Thursday.
He said technology to safely convert plastic waste to energy existed for a long time, and that the conglomerate’s affiliate Northern Cement Corp. had been using it on a smaller scale.
“Other major manufacturers, both locally and globally, have also been using this,” he said.
The company said the initiative comes after its launch of a string of sustainability efforts, which include discontinuing its plastic bottled water business, building the country’s first recycled plastics road, and spending a billion pesos to rid major river systems of garbage.
It said Northern Cement is capable of consuming up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste yearly. The affiliate is targeting to reduce the use of traditional fuel by up to 50% and substitute with plastic wastes.
Mr. Ang said collecting and assembling plastic wastes could provide additional or alternative sources of income for struggling Filipinos as the country continues to cope with the economic impacts of the pandemic.
The cement produced will go to the construction industry, which the company said generates a significant amount of jobs, while driving infrastructure development and economic growth.
“Instead of just hoping for a better tomorrow, we continue to look for actual solutions where we can get the best outcome for the greatest number of people,” Mr. Ang said.
