IDIS in a statement released shortly after the approval of the 20th City Council of the resolution authored by Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo of the city’s First District Tuesday (August 23), said incinerators are being fed by plastic or non-biodegradable waste as fuel, it will burn the wastes and turns the water into steam in a boiler and create a high-pressure steam to produce electricity.
IDIS said, this process results in the emission of highly toxic substances like dioxins and furans, which are known carcinogenic and can also cause reproductive and developmental problems, among others.
“In a city wherein the highest waste being generated is biodegradable, IDIS believes that the WTE-Incinerator facility is a waste of money and, more importantly, addresses the wrong issue which is the lack or absence of the strict implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003), especially on proper waste segregation,” the statement reads.
IDIS said that the current state of the city’s Sanitary Landfill (SLF) in Brgy. New Carmen, Tugbok District has reached beyond its capacity due to unsegregated biodegradable wastes being dumped therein.
IDIS insisted that biodegradable wastes should not be included in the SLF as mandated by the law.
“Further, biodegradable wastes amount to almost 80% of the city’s wastes as per the data of the City Environment and Natural Resources' Waste Characterization (WACS) assessment,” IDIS said.
Biodegradable wastes are mostly generated from residences and commercial establishments. Biodegradable wastes can be treated and reduced without burning or incineration processes, IDIS said.
IDIS stands to its position that the city does not need a WTE incinerator facility as it will only add to the already increasing problem of the city when it comes to dioxins and furans, highly toxic pollutants in the city’s air, water, and land resources in this time of climate crisis.
The group said it cannot stand to imagine the health impact of this facility to the people. Dabawenyos may not feel its effect now, but the danger is lurking to haunt the future of Davao.
IDIS firmly proposes that a sustainable solution for the City is to create a Centralized Composting and Biomass Facility and Systematic Materials Recovery Facilities in every barangay.
“This will not only address the main problem of biodegradable wastes and waste segregation, but it requires a lesser budget allocation compared to an incinerator. In addition, another key is for Barangays to intensify community-based waste management systems from waste segregation and collection to proper waste disposal that will increase diverted wastes instead of being dumped at centralized facilities, such as the sanitary landfill,” IDIS said.
The green group said “Our officials need not look further and complicate things when it comes to solving the city’s waste problem, for if they only look for sustainable solutions and environmentally sound technologies within our city, they will discover that the answer has long been provided and practiced by our fellow Dabawenyos.”
“WTE incinerator facility is not the answer. Burning waste is not the solution,” the group said.
IDIS believes the implementation of the law (RA 9003) and sustainable alternatives is the answer to the waste problem.
Ocampo earlier today has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through a resolution requesting the former to provide a P3.486 billion Philippine National Government counterpart budget to help build the said project.
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