Semiconductor firm warned

The National Solid Waste Management Commission has asked semiconductor firm Amkor Technology Inc. to refrain from disposing non-biodegradable plastic mould runners (MRs) that are toxic when burned.

NSWMC Director Azoilo Andin Jr. said Amkor could be penalized if it does not stop "contracting out hauling or collection of these waste materials to private contractors which do not operate recycling facilities."

"If the waste mould runners are found in dumpsites and similar disposal sites, the generator shall be held liable," the NSWMC told Amkor in a letter dated Oct. 26 in response to a complaint filed by environmental group Earth Savers Movement (ESM).

ESM said an investigation by the Laguna Lake Develop-ment Authority showed that Amkor, which has two micro-circuit plants in Muntinlupa City and in Biñan, Laguna, was dumping about 65 tons of plas-tic mould runners at La Felonila scrap dealer in San Pedro, Lagu-na, which was not allowed to process such plastic wastes.

ESM secretary-general Ro-ger Birosel said such practice violates a 2005 NSWMC memo that requires the processing of such wastes, instead of direct disposal, into reusable forms like concrete hollow blocks.

Birosel said both firms also violate a 2005 order of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) prohibiting semiconductor companies from disposing their wastes to private firms that do not have recycling facilities including a mechanized crusher.

The accusations were denied by Amkor and La Felonila supporters who claimed that an amendment of La Felonila’s original certificate of non-coverage (CNC) added mould runners to the list of scrap materials allowed to be hauled by La Felonila and such were crushed and reused to make concrete triangles for fighting cocks. Amkor also claimed an independent audit of La Felonila was done regularly in compliance with their ISO 20014 environmental compliance certificate.