A second treatment storage disposal (TSD) facility for electronic wastes will be put up by the government in Brgy. Dampalit, Malabon City as part of its commitment to the Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to control these health and environment-hazard materials.
The TSD facility in Malabon will be supplementing the handling of electronic (E) wastes that is now being done in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City.
The two will be the only Materials Recovery Facility upgraded to TSD facilities in the Philippines that have the capability and permit to treat electronic (e) waste.
Electronic wastes– also called waste from electric and electronic equipment (WEEE)– such as used computers, television (TV) sets, refrigerators, cell phones were found to contain toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium.
Also included in the waste group are persistent organic pollutants (POP) flame retardants like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) found in plastic casings.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) held last June 29 a ceremonial signing for the upgrading of the existing MRF to a TSD facility in Malabon City.
The agreement was signed with UNIDO ((United Nations Industrial Development Organization), Malabon City Local Government Unit, and the Integrated Recycling Industries Inc. (IRI), a Laguna-based company specializing in the reclamation and recycling of useful materials from WEEE, EcoWaste Coalition, DENR-EMB and Globe Telecom, Inc. UNIDO is the implementing agency of the project entitled
“Implementation of PCB Management Programs for Electric Cooperatives and Safe e-wastes Management” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
DENR-EMB recognized the role of the informal sector in the proper handling and disposal of WEEE.
Globe Telecom Inc. will also provide co-financing for the operations of the MRF/TSD facility.
“With the upgrading of the MRF (material recovery facility) of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City to a TSD facility for e-wastes, members of the informal sector had been employed in the TSD facility for e-wastes,” said EMB Director William P. Cunado.
The DENR trains its informal sector-partners on proper dismantling of e-waste and proper management of residuals.
As such, exposure to humans and the environment is controlled as these wastes have been linked with cancer, damage in human nervous system, liver, and reproductive system, and other health ills.
The UNIDO-supported project’s target is to collect at least 50,000 cathode ray tubes (CRTs) (which generate POP polybrominated diphenyl ethers) from televisions or computers. At least 26,000 CRTs have been collected as of May 31, 2021.
There is also a target to treat 600 metric tons of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) oil and PCB contaminated equipment from at least 23 Electric Cooperatives nationwide.
“The CRTs are coming from households collected by the informal sector (i.e. Samahan ng Mangangalakal and EcoWaste Coalition,” according to an EMB report.
Collected e-wastes are transferred for proper dismantling and recycling at IRI’s Laguna facility.
Recognized for such proper e-waste dismantling and disposal are the leaders of Barangay Bagong Silang and Camarin, Caloocan City; Barangay Longos, Malabon; Barangay Capulong, Tondo; and Bagong Silang Junkshop.
During the ceremonial signing, DENR-EMB also recognized electric cooperatives that agreed to ensure WEEE are properly disposed, treated, and recycled.
These are Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (CENPELCO), Tarlac Cooperative Inc. (TARELCO), La Union Electric Cooperative (LUELCO), Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (PANELCO), Pampanga Electric Cooperative (PELCO), Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative, Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative (CANORECO), MERALCO, and National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).
Eight cooperatives from Regions 1, 3, and 5 have already signed contracts with NRDC for the disposal of waste to the TSD facility.