Baguio wastes increases
According to Buyucan, the WACS findings meant each person generates .55 kg. of wastes per day at present as against the .45 kg per person per day findings in 2016.
Daily TribuneAccording to Buyucan, the WACS findings meant each person generates .55 kg. of wastes per day at present as against the .45 kg per person per day findings in 2016.
BAGUIO CITY – The local government here – through its General Services Office – disclosed on Friday that the city's daily waste generation increased to 550 tons from 400 tons pre-pandemic and 320 tons during the pandemic.
GSO chief Eugene Buyucan explained that the 550-ton daily output was only for a normal day waste production and can even rise during events and peak tourist seasons.
The rise in waste production was based on the result of the 2022 Waste Analysis and Characterization Study which is required of the city every three years as per Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Management Act of 2000.
According to Buyucan, the WACS findings meant each person generates .55 kg. of wastes per day at present as against the .45 kg per person per day findings in 2016 and to address this, his office stepped up the waste segregation and recycling campaigns in all barangays to reduce the production rate.
The city is also set to build a centralized materials recovery facility soon with the required budget already worked out which is seen to boost the operations of five existing barangay-based MRFs which are all contributing to waste reduction efforts.
The office is also continually networking with non-government organizations to amplify programs like zero waste and 3R or Reduce, Recycle, Reuse through information-education-communication campaigns in the communities.
Buyucan attributed the rise in waste generation to the new normal lifestyle of the people embracing delivery and online purchases.
"Online purchases require packaging and wrapping and this entails voluminous wastes added to the regular wastes generated," said Buyucan.
He added that the increased waste production is also caused by the surge in tourist arrivals after the lifting of the pandemic restrictions.
"More people equals more garbage. It's that simple and we need the cooperation not only of our residents but also of our visitors in managing our garbage through segregation, reducing, recycling and reusing methods," Buyucan said.