In The Philippines, Manila Standard reports the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, faced with the growing issue of garbage-induced flooding in Metro Manila, is exploring the use of waste-to-energy incinerators as a potential solution. MMDA Chairman Romando Artes revealed that a World Bank-funded feasibility study is underway to assess the viability of this technology. “If we have the waste-to-energy system, the garbage will have a substantial value, particularly plastics,” Artes stated
The proposal to install WTE incinerators is not new; it dates back to the tenure of former MMDA Chair and now Senator Francis Tolentino. The Metro Manila Council, the agency’s policy-making body, had previously suggested deploying four incinerators across the region, with an estimated cost of P7 billion per unit. These incinerators would serve Metro Manila’s northern, southern, eastern, and western areas, each of which contributes to the daily production of eight tons of waste.
While the WTE solution is being considered, the MMDA continues to promote its “Recyclables Mo, Palit Grocery” initiative, encouraging residents to trade recyclables for grocery items. Artes underscored the importance of public cooperation, noting that persistent littering undermines the agency’s flood prevention efforts, despite regular cleaning and declogging operations.
