Clark Freeport—The country’s lone-engineered sanitary landfill continues to boost its operational capabilities aimed at adapting to the new normal set-up in waste management and disposal.
Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation has poured in millions in capital investments for additional improvements inside its 100-hectare facility in Sitio Kalangitan in Capas, Tarlac, including constructing additional concrete roads, waste treatment and disposal facilities and its fleet of transport and heavy equipment.
MCWMC President and CEO, Rufo Colayco said that “these continuing developments and facilities improvements are integral to Metro Clark’s overall development program.”
“As we adopt our operations to the new normal brought on by the Covid 19 pandemic, our ongoing infrastructure developments and investments are all geared towards ensuring that Metro Clark continues to provide our world class service to our LGU and other clients, while protecting further the environment and ultimately, the public’s health,” said Colayco, adding that efficient and environment friendly waste disposal have been key to Metro Clark’s steady growth over the past decade.
Almost simultaneously, Metro Clark’s “Big ticket” on-site key disposal facility development projects were implemented early this year, up until the onset of this year's Q3.
These includes the Leachate Treatment Plant (Reed bed) at a cost of P70 million, earth-moving works for the 7-hectare cell expansion, P50 million and a transfer yard and workshop with a combined area of almost a hectare, P43 million.
Aside from this, similar road construction projects within the Kalangitan facility are currently being undertaken by MCWMC. The project cost is pegged at P30 million.
Colayco said that these projects are all programmed to better serve Metro Clark’s expanding market and lately, to cater to the current demands of the ‘new normal.’
“We owe it to our clientele’s as well as stakeholders. These investments in infrastructure and on-site developments are all part of our commitment to continuously provide efficiency in our waste management and disposal service. as they steadily rely on our world class brand of service and efficiency,” Colayco said.
From the main disposal facility to logistics and equipment maintenance Metro Clark ensures that the 100 hectare sanitary landfill operations is safe,environment friendy and at par with the global standards.
Meanwhile, Vicky Gaetos, Metro Clark’s Executive vice-president, disclosed that more local government units in Central Luzon and some provinces in Northern part of Luzon are disposing their municipal wastes in Metro Clark’s engineered sanitary landfill during the Covid 19 lockdowns and quarantine period.
“Clearly, more and more LGU’s and other industrial and commercial centers have benefitted from our efficient and environment-friendly facilities. That’s why we continue to grow our market in the region," Gaetos said.
Gaetos added that the Kalangitan waste disposal facility is more than ready to accommodate larger volumes of wastes as the company continues to expand its on-site waste management capacity as well as adopting to the new normal operational protocols.
“In hindsight, Metro Clark’s decision to build a 7-kilometer concrete has paid off. Its construction and operation cut down the travelling time from the landfill to McArthur Highway from 1 hour to 25 minutes. Hence, more trucks reduced the hauling time by one half. This is not only true for MCWM trucks but also for those from our clients as well,” Gaetos said.
The access road project, bankrolled by Metro Clark, traverse several barangays along Susuba-Mayamot Provincial Road, Capas, Tarlac was paved and concreted in 2018 as the access road direct to the landfill.
Waste disposal operations under the ‘New Normal’
Metro Clark has also embarked on on-site facilities and machineries improvements (Adaptive to New Normal Operations).
Strict adherence to health and safety related protocols to prevent any transmission of COVID 19 disease such as mandatory PPEs for personnel, strict social distancing in offices and other on-site facilities are being practiced at all times.
On the waste being brought to Metro Clark’s Kalangitan facility, VP-Administration and head of Human Resource, Victor O. Hontiveros of MCWM said that there is now a more detailed inquiry and inspection of waste especially from new clients.
“This is to determine if the waste the client declares really falls under the parameters set by EMB & DENR”, Hontiveros said.
He said that the standard washing protocol of trucks after disposal of residual waste is being enforced more stringently. Trucks (both client and company owned) are not allowed out unless they are clean according to the standards set by the Company Health and Safety group.
Where company vehicles and personnel are used for picking up and transporting residual waste, the company has standards which the personnel MUST adhere to.
PPE MUST be worn at all times – NO STOPS along the way except when the crew needs to eat or relieve themselves. They maintain distancing when going to client areas for pick up. The normal covering of the bins is accomplished without coming into contact with the waste.
“These are just a few measures that we have been impleting since the start of the lockdowns in mid-March. The company from the very beginning has always been using sanitary and hygienic protocols and now there have been a few added safety protocols per the additional requirements of the DOH/DENR safety memoranda,”Hontiveros said.
Metro Clark engineered sanitary landfill is the only disposal facility in the country with triple ISO Certicates, namely ISO 9001 QMS (Quality Management Systems); 14001 EMS (Environmental Management Systems); 45001 OSHMS (Occupational SAfety and Health Management Systems) certified.