DENR aims for more recycling facilities in Metro Manila

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), which runs under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is looking to put up more waste-recycling facilities in over 1,700 barangays in Metro Manila.

According to the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), only 943 materials-recovery facilities (MFRs) can be found in the National Capital Region (NCR), and are only serving 964 villages or barangays.

Greener cities, cleaner Manila Bay

Marivic Quides, EMB chief for ambient air and water monitoring at the NCR, made sure that their agency can further help in providing more MFRs to barangay unit. 

Quides made the statement during a coastal cleanup at the Manila Bay last week. With the theme “Trash-free Manila Bay,” the event was the agency’s participation to the annual International Coastal Clean-Up Day.

This initiative aims to highlight the link between pollution in Manila Bay and the discharging of municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes.

Among those collected during last week’s coastal cleanup were bamboo poles, driftwood, and hyacinths, and are believed to have been from the nearby Cavite and Bataan provinces.

“About 30 percent of waste we recovered were bamboo poles and driftwood,” noted RR Salvador, operations superintendent of Pasay City’s City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

Putting some trash to good use

RR Salvador, operations superintendent of Pasay City’s City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the Pasay City government is promoting the use of driftwood and bamboo as materials for making different items.

Salvador said that Pasay residents, specifically those in Barangay 76, use the recovered bamboo and driftwood to make furniture and other items.

These initiative not only makes a cleaner environment but also helps the locals learn the importance of it and using it for their livelihood.

via Business Mirror / Catherine Teves