DOST and DENR launched the Floating Solid Waste Collector System – A Filipino-made Technology to Solve Solid Waste Concerns
Manila, Philippines – Technology makes life easier, better, and more comfortable. Our country’s problem on floating solid wastes remains a major challenge for many years now, and various imported technologies have been tried to address this challenge.
This June, in the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launched the Floating Solid Waste Collector System at the Pasig River Esplanade.
(T) One of the barges of the Floating Solid Waste Collector System and (B) key officials and representatives from DOST, DENR, and greater Manila LGUs present during the launching of Floating Solid Waste Collector System on June 13, 2024 at the Pasig River Esplanade.
The Floating Solid Waste Collector System represents a significant milestone in efforts to combat the challenges posed by solid waste and invasive water hyacinths in our rivers. DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. highlighted the benefits the technology will bring during his speech, “I am proud that this joint R&D project, the development of the floating solid waste collector, is one perfect example of a solution that not only address a challenge but also promises to open opportunities.” He emphasized that it will not only improve the environment but the fishermen’s productivity and provide livelihood not only to the fisherfolks but to the handicrafts and metal industry as well.
This innovative system is poised to address the persistent issues of solid waste and the overpopulation of water hyacinths in Metro Manila's waterways.
It features three essential components: a water hyacinth harvester, a dedicated trash collector, and a power barge for water hyacinth management. These components work synergistically to prevent flooding caused by clogged waterways, ensuring cleaner and more navigable bodies of water.
"The innovative solutions we have developed will not only help in the efficient removal and collection of floating solid wastes but also in preserving the ecological balance of our rivers and estuaries in Metro Manila... Let this project be a shining example of what we can accomplish when we unite for a common cause," said DENR- Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Dir. Jacqueline A. Caancan,
The launch of this technology underscores the government's collaborative efforts in promoting sustainable environmental practices and innovative technological solutions. By integrating science and technology with environmental stewardship, the DOST and DENR are paving the way for a cleaner, more resilient Metro Manila.
“This Floating Solid Waste Collector System will breathe life and hope towards a greener future… The City of Manila, through the Department of Public Services whose mandate is ecological solid waste management and environment sanitation, is committed to promoting and upholding initiatives and interventions to nurture our environment" said Manila Mayor Maria Sheila Lacuna-Pangan on her hopes for a cleaner and greener environment.
Project Leader, Engr. Rodnel O. Tamayo, said that the prototype developed by the DOST will be subjected to performance testing in Cardona, Rizal. With optimism, the DOST and the DENR are certain that the system will be turned over to the DENR by the end of the year. Representatives from other local government units (LGUs) in the Greater Manila area were also present at the event, hoping that more LGUs would adopt this technology.
For more information, please visit DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center’s (MIRDC) official website https://mirdc.dost.gov.ph/ and Facebook page www.facebook.com/dostmirdc.
