In a bid to revolutionize Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone into a renewable energy-powered ecozone, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) unveiled its plan to utilize waste-to-energy technology in line with its goal of fostering smart and sustainable development.

In a statement on Wednesday, the BCDA said it is currently conducting a study for a proposed waste-to-energy facility in an optimal location in Tarlac, which is being eyed to boost power supply and serve the requirements of locators and investors in Clark.

According to BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang, waste-to-energy has been identified as a sustainable alternative to landfills, especially amid the continuous increase in waste generated in the country and around the globe.

“The BCDA is committed to adopting smart and green innovations to push for the sustainable development of our properties. Utilizing waste-to-energy technology, in particular, will modernize solid waste management and promote green energy, helping usher Clark’s transition towards a circular economy,” he said.

According to the World Bank’s 2018 study, What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050, global annual waste generation is projected to jump to 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050.

Further, the study said carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions from solid waste treatment and disposal, primarily driven by open dumps and landfills without gas collection systems, reached 1.6 billion tons in 2016 and are anticipated to increase to 2.6 billion tons by 2050.

“With waste-to-energy technology, the BCDA can do its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while also addressing the energy requirements of our community,” Engr. Bingcang said.

The BCDA’s waste-to-energy study will include site selection, as well as technical, environmental, social, legal, financial, and economic analysis for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility.

Bingcang said once the study is completed, the BCDA will open the project for public bidding. The project is intended to be structured and undertaken under Republic Act 11966, or the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines, and its implementing rules and regulations.

The waste-to-energy project is in line with the Marcos administration’s thrust to bolster solid waste management initiatives in the country.