CLARK FREEPORT— Forty-Seven companies inside this Freeport participated during the 18th Recyclables Collection Event and the Proper Disposal of Selected Hazardous Wastes spearheaded by Clark Development Corporation (CDC) on Tuesday.
CDC’s Environmental Permits Division Manager Rogelio Magat said the event yielded about P465,000 from the disposal of wastes that was collected in cooperation with Environmental Management Bureau of DENR Region III, and the Environmental Practitioners Association (EPA).
The recycling event was also CDC’s celebration of the Philippine Clean Air Month, in partnership with the Bantay Baterya Project of the ABS CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation.
Magat said that the bi-annual event aims to promote recycling and materials recovery as viable options to reduce the volume of residual wastes. It also aims to promote 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 (white goods like refrigerators, air conditioners, television sets, microwave and consumer electronics like mobile phones, tablets, among others.
According to Magat, the said common hazardous wastes when not properly managed pose significant health risks and can irreversibly pollute the environment especially the land, rivers and groundwater.
The success of this program, the EPD manger said, is measured by the large volume of hazardous wastes collected that will no longer pose danger to the environment and human health. He also thanked the 47 companies who participated in the one-day event.
He stated that the RCE has 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. These hazardous wastes requires proper management through treatment and disposal only from DENR-accredited treaters/transporters.
CDC Vice President Evangeline Tejada of Business Development Group welcomed all the guests and participants during the opening ceremony as she mentioned somne of the state-owned firm’s soon-to-be-implement programs in in Clark including bike lanes, interconnectivity of parks, solar roofings of CDC buildings, landscape plans, and other beautification projects that will make Clark distinct and fascinating by local and foreign tourists.
At the sam time, Assistant DENR Regional Director Tirso Parian appreciated the efforts of the CDC and the environment groups in organizing the recyclable event regularly.
The DENR-registered recyclers and treaters who participated in this event, various types of waste materials collected, quantity, and total sales are as follows:
| Service Providers | Type | Quantity | Amount (PhP) |
| VAG General Merchandise | Busted Bulbs/ Lamps | 15,179 kgs | 182,148.00 |
| Joechem Environmental Corporation | Used Oil | 8,809 liters | 39,441.00 |
| Selected WEE
(cathode ray tube-type monitors, TVs) |
1,256 kgs | 18,870.00 | |
| Semirecycling Company, Inc. | Recyclables | 2,898 kgs | 11,140.00 |
| Selected WEEE
(appliances) |
1,376 kgs | 15,617.00 | |
| Oriental & Motolite Marketing Corporation | Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB) | 190 pcs | 53,913.20 |
| ABS-CBN Bantay Baterya | ULAB (Donation) | 422 pcs. | 144,497.00 |
| Total | 465,626.20 |
The biggest donor of batteries is Quest Hotel totaling 173 pieces worth P66,363 to the Bantay Baterya Project. Also joining the event are Widus Hotel and Clark Water Corporation.