Garbage disposal has been a perennial problem in barangays and towns.
But with the charcoal briquetting project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), there will be a reduction in the volume of waste taken from these areas.
Biodegradable waste and agro-forestry wastes such as peanut shells, rice hull and buko husks are the main components of charcoal briquettes.
DENR Regional Director Maximo Dichoso said the office gave Cabiao, in Nueva Ecija; Victoria in Tarlac and Bagac in Bataan complete sets of charcoal briquetting equipments worth P120,000 each.
The production of charcoal in these towns will provide additional livelihood to the residents and alternative source of fuel that is cheap and environment-friendly.
In Cabiao, the charcoal produced is marketed by the local cooperative. They have also producedmixture of biochar and fertilized soil which is a medium for more healthy plants.
In Bagac, they sell the charcoal at P60 per kilo.
Samples of charcoal briquettes were given to other local government units in Victoria by the proponents of the project in Tarlac.
Dichoso added that for every ton of charcoal produced form biodegradable wastes, 88 trees with 10 centimeters in diameter are preserved. (Rebecca Grace S. David)
