Project IWASTO Holds Webinar on Waste Management

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – A Department of Science and Technology-funded research project successfully launched its webinar series titled “IWASTO Natin Webinar Series on Sustainable Solid Waste Management Amidst COVID-19” last 8 July via Zoom and Facebook live.

Invitation poster of the webinar
(Source: Project IWASTO official Facebook page)

Participated by different representatives from various sectors both government and private, Project Integrated Waste Analysis, Survey, and Technological Options (Project IWASTO) lead the webinar series which, as of writing, will have a total three sessions on topics involving solid waste management.

The first session focused on the management of biodegradable wastes. Dr. Maria Antonia Tanchuling, project leader of Project IWASTO, presented a brief overview of the program as part of the opening remarks. For this, speakers Dr. Myra Tansenco and Engr. David Herrera discussed the technologies developed and promoted by the Environment and Biotechnology Division of the Department of Science and Technology – Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI).

“Philippine solid waste is largely composed of biodegradable waste, so this has great potential for composting” Dr. Tansenco emphasized during her talk. She presented the various composting technologies of DOST-ITDI that could be used for varying capacities depending on the target user.

Dr. Herrera discussed another potential use of biodegradable waste as a raw material to produce biogas (e.g. methane). “There is a need for [a] low cost waste treatment facility due to the growing animal industry and municipal garbage” he explained.

After the presentations, questions from webinar participants in both Zoom and Facebook were answered by the speakers.

The next webinar session will be held tentatively on July 16.

Project IWASTO aims to develop integrated solid waste information and technology management system for selected communities that are part of the Manila Bay watershed. It is a two-year project under the IM4ManilaBay Program, a consortium of research projects that aims to clean up and rehabilitate Manila Bay. The program component projects are funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).