Balanga City, Bataan—The Balanga City government has developed an 8.1-hectare sanitary landfill located in Barangay Munting Batangas to become the first-ever Eco Park in Bataan.
The area served as a landfill for collected mixed wastes from the city. Solid waste management is one of the priority programs of City Mayor Francis Garcia.
“The program has paved the way to redefine the customary image of landfills by eliminating indiscriminate disposal of garbage and over-dumping by recycling usable materials," said Balanga Cenro.
To transform the landfill into Eco Park, Cenro started planting earth-balled trees in the area. The 25 barangays were required to have their own Materials Recovery Facility to segregate waste before they reach the landfill.
The Eco Park showcases recycling initiatives of the city government such as eco brick-making and decorative blocks-making, charcoal briquette-making, and coco mat-weaving. A house made of recycled plastic bottles called “plastikubo” was built.
Cenro said the development of Eco Park is in line with the city’s mission to create a highly livable community that involves cooperation between the government and the people.