Waste-to-energy facility in Clark gets backing of BCDA

Metro Clark Waste Management Corp.’s (MCWM) plan to put up a $250-million waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in Clark, Pampanga has secured the backing of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in a bid to avert a “garbage crisis.”

In January, MCWM — which operates a 100-hectare disposal facility in Clark, Pampanga—announced its partnership with Plambeck-Emirates to set up the WTE project. 

During the recent 20th anniversary celebration of MCWM, BCDA president and CEO Aileen Zosa said that amid a looming garbage crisis, the WTE project is a “good fit” to the sustainability thrusts of New Clark City — a flagship development project of the BCDA.

“We want to make New Clark City a livable, walkable, sustainable, and efficient community. We want to ensure that our garbage is efficiently collected and disposed of,” said Zosa.

For his part, Environment Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna said, in a speech read during the event, “We would like to see more of Metro Clark’s projects take off because this would mean more green investments pouring into our country. Apart from creating jobs, we are also looking at lengthening the lifespan of sanitary landfills and improving our environmental outlook.”

MCWM and Plambeck-Emirates’ WTE project is seen to reduce by up to 70% the volume of waste to be disposed of in MCWM's landfill in Clark.

For his part, Albay Representative Joey Salceda called on the Senate to pass the bill that would allow emission-controlled waste burning—which would in turn reduce solid waste.

“Last December, the House of Representatives enacted House Bill 6444, which repeals Section 20 of the Clean Air Act… Approved na sa Congress almost unanimously. Sa Senate na lang,” said Salceda.

Once installed, MCWMC’s waste-to-energy plant would become the first such facility in Clark, New Clark City, and the Philippines.

MCWMC serves over 150 local government units (LGUs) and 1,000 industrial clients in Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, and the Cordillera Autonomous Region. —NB/KBK, GMA Integrated News