Leading cement maker Holcim Philippines, Inc. and its waste management unit Geoycle will help Barangay Panacan in Bunawan District sustainably manage its municipal wastes by converting these materials to low-carbon fuels in making cement.

The company signed a memorandum of agreement with officials from Panacan for the disposal of the community’s collected plastic wastes. The barangay will initially send 125 kilos of shredded plastic wastes weekly for co-processing to the plant. A community based information and education drive on proper solid waste segregation and management will also follow. 

Barangay Panacan was led by Councilor and Environment Committee Chairman Eller Bantugan while Holcim Philippines was represented by Davao Plant Manager Sam Manlosa and Head of Geocycle Jon Alan Cuyno.

Holcim Davao Plant Manager Sam Manlosa: “We are proud to provide our host barangay Panacan a sustainable waste management solution and thankful for their trust. We hope this partnership will further expand to other communities and the entire city of Davao so we can be a stronger partner in its sustainable progress.”

Panacan is the first local government unit that Holcim Philippines will provide waste management assistance in Davao and the fourth in Mindanao. The company supports 28 municipalities and cities throughout the Philippines in waste management with 18 partners added this year. In 2021, the Company co-processed sorted municipal solid waste equivalent to the annual output of 17,500 households, helping local government units divert these away from landfills.

Co-processing is a government-approved and globally-recognized waste management technology that repurposes non-recyclable qualified discarded materials from various industries into alternative low-carbon fuels and raw materials used in cement kilns. Among the environmental advantages of co-processing are the extremely high temperatures of kiln and longer treatment time materials that prevent formation of harmful gasses. There are also no residues to be landfilled.

Holcim Philippines is increasing its use of low-carbon fuels in cement manufacturing to reduce carbon emissions, cut use of virgin raw materials and contribute to managing wastes in the country in a sustainable manner.