LAOAG CITY – The city government of Laoag is embarking on a sustainable approach in reducing its solid waste by converting them into usable industrial materials through its new pyrolysis plant.
With an average of 240 cubic meters of solid waste collected in the city daily, Mayor Michael Keon said the installation of the facility marks a significant milestone in the city's efforts to modernize its solid waste management system.
A pyrolysis plant is a facility that utilizes pyrolysis, a thermal decomposition process, to convert waste materials like plastics, tires, and oil sludge into valuable products.
"Instead of ending up in landfills, these materials are transformed into useful by-products such as ash, which can be used as fertilizer, or in the production of pavers, hollow blocks, and other construction materials," Keon said in a statement on Wednesday, a day after he witnessed the test run of the facility.
"This technology not only minimizes waste but also promotes sustainability by converting garbage into resources," he added.
The PHP45-million facility, which was installed with the help of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is located at the city's sanitary landfill in Barangay 40 Balatong.
Keon said the facility can process approximately 120 cubic meters of solid waste per day, or 50 percent of the city’s average waste volume.
"By diverting waste away from the existing sanitary cells, we significantly reduce landfill usage and extend the functional lifespan of our sanitary landfill which is a major win for environmental sustainability," he said.
As the city braces for urban development, Keon said the project plays a vital role in their long-term strategy to integrate modern waste-to-resource technology that results in sustainability, innovation, and improved public services.
The DOST earlier cited Laoag's sanitary landfill and pyrolysis plant as a benchmark facility for sanitary landfill management in the Philippines.
Aside from the one in Laoag City, other existing pyrolysis facilities in Luzon are located in Metro Manila and in Cauayan City, Isabela.
LAOAG LGU PHOTO
