Mandaluyong to pulverize plastic waste to make cement blocks

MANILA, Philippines – Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos wants all of his city's plastic garbage pulverized and turned into an ingredient for making cement blocks. And that will be possible once the city buys pulverizing machines made in Teresa, Rizal – each machine costing P234,000. In a statement issued on Monday, Abalos said the 27 barangays of the city will be centralized in order to collect all the plastic waste gathered by their respective material recovery facilities (MRF). "This activity will be done in a communal effort," Abalos said. "We should help each other in order to come out with the best product for the city’s use and eventually to be sold in the market.” The byproduct of the plastic waste – brick cement – will then be used for the beautification of city pavements. Plastic materials are very good binder for cement and sand, according to city engineer Cris Roxas. The by-product has already passed the standards of the Department of Science and Technology. “We are just waiting for the accreditation of PSI (Philippine Standards Institute),” Abalos said. Abalos also hopes to make a big cut in the city's plastic waste. "Around 50 percent of the garbage is composed of plastic," he said. "And with the segregation of this material the local government will save a lot in the cost of dumping garbage." Teresa Calo, a consultant, said: "If ever, Mandaluyong will be the first to use the pulverizing machine in the NCR (National Capital Region)." Abalos added that the city would tap the Department of Social Welfare and Development for a diversion program for out-of-school youth, especially in Barangay Welfareville. Meanwhile, the city has bought three dump trucks and one boom truck to improve its garbage collection "A number of residents will also be given the opportunity to earn a small living with the conduct of this MRF program,” Abalos said. - GMANews.TV