3 months ago
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BAGUIO CITY — Waste management program here has undergone positive changes in the past years, boosting the city's thrust to fully transition from linear to circular economy where wastes are turned into useful materials instead of just ending up in the trash.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said during the launching of Circular Economy program last Jan. 31, 2025, that this also bodes well for the city working its way to sustainability and resiliency in line with its vision to attain a livable, inclusive and creative status in 2043 amid the challenges of urban decay and climate change.
The mayor said that the city managed to bring down its daily residual wastes production from 250 tons in 2023 to 188 tons in 2024 or a 50-ton reduction. This translates to reduced expenses in hauling and tipping costs in transporting and processing waste to engineered sanitary landfill outside the city.
He said improvement was also noted during typhoons and heavy rains.
"In the past almost 75 percent of the metal screens in City Camp lagoon drainage tunnels got covered with trash. Now, this has been reduced to around 25 percent," the mayor said.
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He said that aside from proactive waste management practices, this owes to the fact that more residents are now practicing segregation at the household level.
The operation of the black soldier fly (BSF) facility also contributed to the processing of the food wastes generated at the city market and the central business district.
"And since many barangay have initiated their own segregation schemes, more recyclables are now being recovered," the mayor said.
The mayor said these positive developments are timely as the city now embraces a circular economy where wastes are turned into useful materials instead of ending up in the trash, thereby creating economic opportunities.
"The launch of the Baguio Circular Economy Program is a significant breakthrough in our city's pursuit of a sustainable and resilient future. It is more than just an environmental initiative — it is a major and conscious shift in the way we manage our resources, minimize waste, and promote economic opportunities that are both innovative and responsible," the mayor said.
He said the city intends to make it a way of life in the city to realize a sustainable urban life for the benefit of the future generation.
