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DAVAO CITY, Philippines – An environmental health group is warning city officials here that adopting a Waste-to-Energy (WtE) facility might do more harm than good.
Aileen Lucero of Eco-waste Coalition said the WtE might sound appealing as it offers to cut the volume of wastes.
Lucero explained that when wastes are burned, it turns into toxic ash which can cause cancer among residents living near the facility.
As of 2015, Davao City produces an estimate of 600 metric tons of wastes daily. But Lucero said 60 percent of the city’s wastes are biodegradable, while some 24 percent are recyclable.
She said this shows that a WtE facility is more costly and non-sustainable compared to waste segregation and recycling.