Dagupan City is converting collected trash from its dumpsite into organic fertilizer, a move that benefits local gardeners and reduces waste in the community.

Edwin Sabado, a certified plant expert from Barangay Pogo Chico, is among those benefiting from this eco-friendly approach. 

Sabado, who uses organic fertilizer for his plants, praises the city’s effort to turn food waste into valuable compost.

“Kasi samin dito, yung waste namin — yung mga nabubulok — kino-convert namin into fertilizer [at] pinapakain namin sa [mga] earthworm. dapat yung waste material na compostable dapat i-convert natin to fertilizer,” Sabado said.

The city’s Waste Management Division processes collected garbage from the dumpsite into organic fertilizer.

“‘Yung leftover na prutas, mga vegetables, o kaya yung balat ng vegetables, [ay] mini-mix namin yun [sa] saw dust, at nilalagay natin sa composting machine,” Bernard Cabison, Chief of the Waste Management Division, said.

This initiative also supports other local programs, such as school gardens and community planting projects. 

“Bibigay namin ng libre yan, which will be an extension to the barangay, aside — together with DepEd (Department of Education), solo parent[s], 4Ps, at magtutulungan kami,” Mayor Belen Fernandez said.

“Maraming school na rin tayong nabigyan [ng mga fertilizer, at ‘yung] mga individuals na mahilig [rin] magtanim [ay] pumupunta sila sa facility natin,” Cabison added.