The Department of Science and Technology’s bioreactor at the Rio Tuba Nickel facility can process 500 kilograms of waste materials to produce the same amount of fertilizers and soil conditioners.
Rio Tuba Nickel became the first mining company to use the Department of Science and Technology’s bioreactor that converts biodegradable wastes into organic fertilizers and soil conditioners.
RTN, a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp., adopted the innovative soil conditioning technology through DOST’s technology transfer program.
“RTN is proud to be first in the mining industry to run this bioreactor. It gives us the integrity to compel the community to segregate household wastes. We are committed to educate the barangays on how solid wastes from their homes and backyards, when handled properly, can contribute to the protection of the environment and help reduce environment degradation,” said Wilbern Blitz Paeste, RTN’s mining technology and geosciences coordinator.
DOST project supervisor Dr. Myra Tansengco said the principle behind the bioreactor developed by DOST-ITDI is to promote efficient solid waste management practices in the communities to comply with RA9003.
“RTN is the first mining company to use the fertilizer and soil conditioner from this bioreactor for their rehabilitation programs and for use in the communities,” said Tansengco.
The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or RA 9003 was signed into law in 2001. It is the legal framework for a systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management program in the Philippines.
Almost 20 years after RA 9003 became a law, the challenge continues to be on how to enforce proper waste segregation in the communities.
Engr. David Herrera, a senior science specialist at DOST, said the challenge is still for the barangay-level folks to visualize how solid waste can be useful, for the individual and for the community as a whole.