CLARK FREEPORT— The recently concluded 19th Recyclables Collection Event (RCE) and the Proper Disposal of Selected Hazardous Wastes organized by Clark Development Corporation (CDC) with the Environmental Permits Division, the Environmental Management Bureau of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region III, and the Environmental Practitioners Association (EPA) yielded about P686,000 from the disposal of wastes that was collected.
According to CDC- Environmental Permits Division Manager Rogelio Magat, the 1-day event was the biggest sales by far which was participated by fifty-seven locator companies in this Freeport.
Magat furthered that the event was also in partnership with Bantay Baterya Project of the ABS- CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and at the same time in celebration of the Environmental month.
Magat said that the bi-annual event aims to promote recycling and materials recovery as viable options to reduce the volume of residual wastes consequently promoting awareness among the various small and medium business establishments on proper management of hazardous wastes like busted lamps/bulbs, used oil, used lead acid batteries, and electronic wastes among others.
The said common hazardous wastes when not properly managed may pose significant health risks and can irreversibly pollute the environment.
During the event, Magat gave a brief background about the RCE which was launched by the CDC and the EPA in 2003 and how it evolved through the years, from recyclables materials, batteries and busted bulbs; it expanded its coverage to include used oil and electronic wastes since there were recently classified as hazardous wastes by the DENR in 2013.
Meanwhile, DENR Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio acknowledged the efforts of CDC and EPA and challenged them to go beyond Clark and help LGUs in organizing similar event.
The biggest donors of batteries were SFA Semicon Phils (Samsung) and Mimosa Cityscapes (Filinvest) worth PhP72,001 and PhP26,607, respectively. The success of this program is measured by the large volume of hazardous wastes collected that will no longer pose danger to the environment and human health.