Around 15 personnel from the Local Government Unit of Tampilisan in Zamboanga del Norte have finished training on a technology that converts solid wastes into useful products, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said.

In a statement, DOST stated that they have successfully completed recently the hands-on training on the use, operation, and maintenance of bioreactor and plastic densifier technologies in Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte.

The bioreactor converts biodegradable waste into organic compost, which can be used as a soil conditioner for urban gardening or farming. It uses an inoculant to break down organic matter in solid wastes and hasten the decomposition process.

Plastic densifier, on the other hand, processes non-biodegradable waste such as plastic cellophane and Styrofoam into usable flowerpots and decorative blocks.

Tampilisan, 4th class municipality located in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, like most municipalities in the country, faced serious concerns about solid waste management. In the past, the municipality struggled to properly dispose of its solid waste collected from the different communities.

This led to the accumulation of collected garbage, which poses serious environmental and health hazards. With the technology introduced by DOST, the agency stated that the environmental problems of the communities will now be addressed appropriately.

The four-day training activity was organized by the DOST Regional Office IX through its Provincial Science and Technology Office in Zamboanga del Norte (PSTO-ZDN), and in cooperation with DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI).

Experts from DOST-ITDI namely Engr. Pierre Jordan Mendoza, Engr. Benjamin Santos and Joannalene Tuazon served as resource persons and trainers.

Al Rey M. Catubig, MENRO-designate of LGU-Tampilisan, said they are very happy that DOST has prioritized their municipality in the deployment of these technologies.

“Now, we can properly and efficiently manage our collected solid wastes and convert them into compost and bricks,” he said.

He added that the implementation of these technologies will greatly improve their solid waste management program and brings about significant changes in Tampilisan through the support of its local officials. He further stated that the municipality will now be able to reduce the volume of solid waste and turn it into useful products.

The training activity is part of a package of interventions provided by DOST-IX to LGU-Tampilisan through the initiative titled “Upgrading the Solid Waste Management Program of LGU Tampilisan through Adoption of Bioreactor and Plastic Densifier Technologies.” The project was funded through DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) with total funding assistance amounting to P2,005,000.00.

SETUP is a flagship program of the DOST that provides innovation funds and technical support to small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to improve productivity, reduce production costs, and enable MSMEs to level up their operations.

The project funded the acquisition of key equipment such as a 1-ton capacity bioreactor and plastic densifier. Both technologies were developed by DOST-ITDI.