The local government began collecting used cooking oil from residents, which they mix with plastic materials to create eco bricks as the City of Marikina continuous to make projects for the waste management activities.
In an interview with DZBB on Friday, July 15, Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro noted that there is a big amount of wasted cooking oil that end up clogging the drainage systems when disposed of in sinks or even toilets.
To prevent damage in their systems, the local government devised a method of collecting used cooking oil from residential areas, as well as restaurants and other establishments in the city.
There are designated collectors from the City Environmental Management Office (CEMO), and some from the private sector, that follow a particular schedule per barangay.
The collectors roam around in a vehicle carrying a drum where residents can store their used cooking oil.
“Pag nakolekta ito, nire-recycle natin. Ginagamit natin ito kasama ng ibang recyclable materials katulad ng Styrofoam, at mga tarpaulin at campaign materials. Shine-shred, pinapakuluan ‘yung mantika tapos meron tayong ginagamit, tawag styro-plastic densifier machine (When we’ve collected the oil, we recycle them with the other materials like Styrofoam, and the taurpalins and other campaign materials. We shared the plastic, then put them to boil with the cooking oil. Afterwards we place them inside a styro-plastic densifier machine),” Teodoro explained.
The mayor said the densifier machine was given to the local government from a grant by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
They crafted a proposal on recycling, which they presented to the DOST, as a component for their Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), Teodoro said.
The local government uses the eco bricks for landscaping projects, flooring and creating pavements for school grounds, parks, and playgrounds.
CEMO is also exploring options to create other molds in which to pour the liquified materials once they’ve been densified by the machine. The eco bricks are durable due to the fibers that make up the recycled plastic materials.
Teodoro said they are exploring other options and uses for the eco bricks such as offering the them to residents for their personal use, especially through the Home Materials Assistance Program.
They will also consider working with other local government units if the oil collection project would have huge collection or can be feasible.
So resourceful. That is good way in making new products.