First MRF within a village in Binan Laguna

First MRF within a village in Binan Laguna

A Materials Recovery Facility or MRF is a specialized station where recyclable solid waste materials are received, separated, and prepared for sending out to re-processors or end-user manufacturers  for the creation of new products.  There are two main types of MRFs consisting of the clean and dirty. The former accepts recyclable materials that have already been separated/sorted at the source such as residential or commercial areas while the latter accepts mixed solid waste which needs to be separated either by manual or mechanical means. Between the two, dirty MRFs are more labor-intensive and more expensive to maintain.  A complete Materials Recovery Facility would usually include a sorting station, a drop-off center, a composting facility, and a recycling facility.

Why is a Materials Recovery Facility Important?

To encourage and support manufacturers who use recyclable materials, it is important that they have a reliable source of quality recyclables.  The lack of such source only gives them a reason to use valuable raw materials because of their need to produce their products.  Most businesses will not stop harvesting raw materials to ensure their continued operation thus the importance of providing a viable alternative from which they can source their required materials.

People from all walks of like in the Philippines are being enjoined to do their part in providing support for solid waste management.  Under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, every barangay or cluster of barangays all over the country must establish an MRF.  The location shall be determined by barangays through their respective Sanggunian.  At present, there are about 7,938 out of the total 42,000 barangays being serviced by 6,957 MRFs, based on the records of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Pilot Project for Binan, Laguna

Recognizing the need for a more efficient way of collecting solid wastes particularly garden and park waste comprised of leaves, twigs, branches, and similar waste products., the barangay leadership has deemed it proper to start an MRF initiative within a residential village.  The move is expected to drastically decrease the number of trips that have to be made by garbage collectors in collecting garden and park waste.  This is sought to be done by having the collected garden and park waste shredded into more manageable bulk and quantity before being collected by garbage trucks.  It has to be noted that garden and park waste comprise a big bulk of the garbage collected from residential villages in the area.

The machine that will shred the green waste

The machine that will shred the green waste

Green waste for shredding

Green waste for shredding

Drop-off area for recyclable materials

Drop-off area for recyclable materials

There is also a designated drop-off area for other solid waste materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and others which are expected to be used by manufacturers for making new products.  Although the initial stages of the operation of this MRF is centered on decreasing the bulk of garden and park waste and collection of recyclable materials, a composting facility is expected to follow to make better use of the collected garden and park waste.  Composting is being eyed as a possible income-generating activity for the host village.

Blessing of the MRF

Blessing of the MRF

Last December 29, 2012, the MRF which is located at San Jose Village 2 in BInan, Laguna was inaugurated with the presence of Binan Mayor Lenlen Alonte-Naguiat, Vice Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila, Ms. Sheila Israel (representing her husband Congressman Dan Fernandez),  Barangay Captain Joel Aviso and other barangay officials.  The host village was represented by its Board of Directors.  In their respective speeches, the guest officials enjoined everyone to support this project as this MRF is expected to be just the first of several that will be established to service the whole Barangay Binan in the City of Binan, Laguna.

My Say

Projects such as this should be given full support since its success will primarily benefit the residents of the area.  Although the government is tasked to provide the means to establish these facilities,  the beneficiaries must be able to show that they are able to accept and perform the responsibility that comes with having them.  Let this pilot Materials Recovery Facility in San Jose Village 2 be a true model of cooperation between government and citizens.