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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Multi-awarded invention of a student, teachers of Tondo offers an innovative solution to waste management 

Multi-awarded invention of a student, teachers of Tondo offers an innovative solution to waste management 

Published Mar 13, 2023 01:14 pm
With the help of his teachers, a student from a public school in Tondo, Manila came up with a creative, environmentally friendly, and innovative solution to waste management. After seeing the growing problem of garbage and the lack of proper roads in their area, Grade 8 student John Paul Ralloma with the guidance of teacher Ma. Socorro M. Lozano and Sonny D. Valenzuela and School Head of Timoteo Paez Integrated School (TPIS) in Balut, Tondo came up with an invention made from plastic waste and hair to solve the problem. “Growing up, I used to ask my parents how to dispose of garbage. We came up with this invention to help our community in Balut, Tondo, which is near the smokey mountain,” Ralloma said in a mix of English and Filipino. The group created “HAIRPLASTICBLOCK: Pavement Block using Low Density Polyethylene Plastic (LDPE) and Human Hair Waste as Alternative Aggregates” which is a type of cement block that can also be used to make roads. The block is formed by combining refined used plastic bags and hair, and cement. “Our goal is to help reduce garbage in our environment, at the same time, we also see the potential of this project,” Lozano said. “It could be mass-produced, it could help communities,” she added. The said invention has already garnered awards from various award-giving bodies in different countries such as the Bronze Prize from the National Research Council of Thailand; Special Award of Excellence Invention Plaque from Kemeterian Pendidikan Malaysia; Diploma Special Award from Haller Pro Inventio Foundation in Poland, and many others. (Photos courtesy of DepEd Philippines Facebook Page)
Currently, the group is studying how the said “hairplastiblock” can be further developed such as applying color and different molds to make it more suitable and useful to the community.

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