Volunteers recovered 1,159 of assorted wastes, mostly polyethylene terephthalate bottles, sando bags, soiled diapers, sanitary pads, face masks, plastic spoon and forks, and sachets during the 6th River Clean-up Drive and Brand Audit on Saturday, 17 September 2022 at the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed. Photo courtesy of IDIS
DAVAO CITY – A group expressed its disappointment over the statement of Davao City 1st District Councilor Temujin “Tek” Ocampo that potential health hazards of a waste-to-energy facility raised by environment advocates were based on “wrong information.” In a statement sent to MindaNews on Monday, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability reiterated its opposition to the construction of a WTE project in Davao due to some grave health and environmental problems that an incinerator facility would cause.
Citing a study conducted by Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, a professor of environmental science and engineering at the Silliman University in Dumaguete City, the group said WTE incinerators release large amounts of highly toxic substances called dioxins and furans into the air.Emmanuel was former chief technical adviser on global environment projects of the United Nations Development Program.
Ocampo, who chairs the committee on environment, said last August 30 that “time is of the essence” in the construction of a WTE because of the increasing volume of wastes generated in the city daily.He said the city generates 600 to 800 tons of wastes daily, which would be more than enough to fill up to the brim the new sanitary landfill located just beside the existing dumpsite in five years’ time.