The province of Ilocos Norte will get another plastic recycling facility that will boost its solid waste management program.

Estrella Sacro, head of the Ilocos Norte Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO), said the machinery will come from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

It has a plastic washer and dryer as well as an extruder for the manufacture of chairs, tables, and flowerpots among others.

“We are thankful to the DENR Central Office for trusting us with this project as we aim for a zero-waste province of Ilocos Norte,” said Sacro in an interview Monday following the dry run of the PHP6-million plastic waste recycling machine with a capacity of 250 kilograms per hour.

According to Sacro, the brand new plastic recycling machine can process all types of single-use plastic materials such as sando bags except for plastic bottles and hard plastic. Said machine is currently stationed at the ENRO extended warehouse in Barangay Camanggaan here as it complements the ongoing construction of a pilot model cluster plastic recycling and materials recovery facility in Marcos town.

The facility is being constructed on a three-hectare lot owned by the municipal government of Marcos which will process all biodegradable and residual wastes generated in the towns of Solsona, Dingras, Nueva Era, Pinili, Currimao, Badoc, San Nicolas, Banna, Paoay, and Batac City in the second district of the province.

Once fully operational, Sacro said this will significantly reduce the problem on solid wastes.

Last October 20, an eco hub facility that converts plastic waste materials into usable products was also inaugurated in Piddig town.

By using simple technology, plastic wrappers and debris are broken down into pieces and are mixed with cement and sand to produce eco-friendly supplies and products, including eco-bricks and pervious pavers, among others. (PNA)