Batanes is known for its pristine and enchanting beauty. It has become one of the growing tourist destinations in the country. In 2018, tourist arrivals tripled the province’s population of 17,000.

The population of the province and the influx of tourists in the province resulted to serious problems on waste management. Every day, a single tourist may contribute to 3 to 5 plastics of bottled drinks and plastic wastes. Thus, it is safe to note that waste generation increased abruptly for these past three to four years. The sudden increase of waste generation in the province leads to unpleasant living conditions and unhealthy environment.

The DOST R02 thru PSTC Batanes, in response to Governor Marilou Cayco’s predicament on the growing volume of plastics, came to aid through the provision of plastic shredder and plastic densifier. The DOST downloaded fund of P1.3M for the project “Provision of Facilities for Material Recovery Facility and Recycling Wastes”.

The equipment is being housed at the Basco Eco-park in Chadpidan, San Antonio, Basco, Batanes. It is operated and maintained by the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO). PLGU-ENRO hired machine operators who undergone the training conducted by DOST and the supplier on the operation of the equipment. Since its first day of operation, huge amount of plastic bottles has been shredded and processed. Shredded plastics for the meantime are given to machine operators who sold them to mainland as their incentives.

Noting the great potential of the project in eliminating plastic wastes, the governor of Batanes is requesting for another sets to be given to other municipalities.

In support to the project, PLGU call for a “Yaru” to segregate plastic bottles from other plastic wastes

The output: shredded plastic bottles

Training on the operations of plastic shredder and plastic densifier