MANILA, Philippines — Metro Clark Waste Management (MCWM), a Clark-based company, has proposed to develop a flagship waste-to-energy project in Clark, Pampanga that is seen to help the Philippines achieve its sustainability goals.
Together with its partner Plambeck-Emirates, MCWM will bring in up to $250 million in investments to the country as a result of the project, which is designed to reduce by up to 70 percent the volume of waste to be disposed in MCWM’s landfill in Clark.
MCWM operates a 100-hectare disposal facility in Clark. Plambeck-Emirates, meanwhile, is a joint venture between Plambeck Germany, a publicly listed firm with extensive experience in renewable energy projects, and the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi.
The consortium has already submitted its unsolicited proposal to state-owned Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) in 2019.
BCDA, for its part, has yet to respond to the proposal, but proponents are hoping to commence with the project as soon as possible as part of a comprehensive waste management solution, that has been proven as an effective strategy to minimize waste.
“MCWM is ready and eager to start groundbreaking on a WTE facility as soon as the concession is renewed, having previously submitted a proposal for the same in 2019,” the company said.
According to its proposal, a waste-to-energy power plant will utilize waste as fuel. This will be a key feature of the proposed integrated waste management system.
MCWM is the second largest landfill operator in the country by volume, and is the only facility that exceeds all environmental requirements. Furthermore, it is the only facility in Southeast Asia certified under ISO for Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14000), Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 45001) and Quality Management System (ISO9001).
At present, the company serves over 150 local government units and 1,000 industrial clients in Central Luzon.
For its LGU clients, MCWM does not do house-to-house trash collection. Instead, the waste is picked up from designated pick-up points where the waste is segregated. The company only accepts “residual waste” from LGUs and treated hazardous waste.
The company accepts medical and industrial waste and is under the close monitoring of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.