How machines handle tons of trash in Porac, Pampanga

Summary

The video showcases a detailed tour of the PWS Pampanga waste management facility, explaining the waste accounting process using a weighbridge system linked to SAP for accurate billing. Trucks deliver waste for segregation, recycling, and upcycling, with a focus on minimizing landfill use. The facility aims to process up to 5,000 tons of waste daily and recover 80-90% of materials. The non-recyclable waste is compacted, wrapped, and stored for future conversion into sustainable fuels, supporting a cleaner environment. The facility employs locals and emphasizes sustainable, efficient waste management practices.

Takeaways

• 🚚 The facility in Pampanga is designed for waste accounting, with garbage trucks weighing waste upon entry and exit to record net weight for billing.
• ⚖️ The weigh scale is calibrated and connected to an automated system for accurate waste accounting, ensuring transparency and accuracy in waste management.
• 🌱 The primary goal of the facility is not landfill but material recovery, with a focus on segregation, pre-treatment, and maximizing recycling or upcycling of waste.
• 🔄 The facility aims to recover 80-90% of all received waste, turning inorganic or non-biodegradable waste into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for industrial use.
• 🚮 The process includes a conveyance system and a vibrating screen to separate organics from inorganics, with the inorganics being shredded and compacted for RDF.
• 🏭 The facility is equipped to handle up to 5,000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste per day, starting with an initial capacity of 3,000 tons.
• 👷‍♀️ The workforce is primarily local, with plans to employ over 200 people, including engineers and operators for heavy equipment, promoting local economic development.
• 🌐 The facility is part of a larger initiative to introduce efficient waste management practices and turn waste into sustainable fuels, contributing to environmental sustainability.
• 🛡️ Safety measures are in place for workers, including the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and access to medical facilities, ensuring a safe working environment.
• 🌿 The facility mitigates bad odors through a chemical process immediately after waste enters, and residual waste is compacted and wrapped to control methane emissions and smells.

Q & A

What is the primary function of the waybridge area mentioned in the script?

The waybridge area is where waste accounting takes place, with garbage trucks carrying waste and a weigh scale connected to an automated system for accurate recording.

How does the calibrated weigh scale contribute to waste accounting?

The calibrated weigh scale ensures that the weight of the waste carried by trucks is accurately recorded for billing purposes, enhancing transparency and accuracy.

What is the initial waste acceptance capacity of PWS Pampanga?

PWS Pampanga is initially ready to accept about 3,000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste per day, with the potential to increase to 5,000 tons per day as operations build up.

What is the ultimate goal of the facility beyond being a landfill?

The facility aims to be a large-scale materials recovery facility, focusing on segregation, pre-treatment, and maximizing recycling or upcycling of waste.

How does the facility ensure compliance of the waste trucks that enter the premises?

The facility maintains a list of pre-registered trucks, ensuring they are compliant, contained, and not leaking, with security checks at the entrance.

What is the purpose of the egress way bridge in the waste management process?

The egress way bridge is used to weigh empty trucks after waste disposal, allowing the facility to record the net weight for billing and ensuring accurate waste accounting.

What happens to the inorganic or non-biodegradable waste after it's filtered out?

The inorganic waste goes through a shredding process to become refuse-derived fuel (RDF), which can be used as an alternative to coal in industrial sites like cement plants.

How does the vibrating screen contribute to the waste sorting process?

The vibrating screen, likened to a strainer, separates inorganic materials from organics, with plastics staying at the top and organics falling to the bottom, facilitating efficient waste sorting.

What measures are taken to mitigate the smell of waste at the facility?

A chemical process is employed immediately after waste enters the facility to mitigate the smell, and residual waste is compacted and wrapped in air-tight material to control odor.

What is the significance of the shredding process in the waste management system described?

The shredding process is crucial for converting inorganic waste into RDF, which is a valuable fuel alternative for industrial use, contributing to the sustainability of the waste management system.

How does the facility plan to utilize the organic waste in the future?

The organic waste is planned to be used in a waste fuel process, potentially through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, which can be converted into sustainable fuel alternatives like methanol.