First in Pampanga: AC’s shredding machines to help recycle plastic into bricks
ANGELES CITY — The city government here will now be able to recycle the city’s collected plastics into brick pavers, after acquiring two plastic shredder machines — the first of its kind in the city and in Pampanga.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr.’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas shared that the city has already collected 552,555 kilos of plastic from the city’s Walang Plastikan, Plastik Palit Bigas project.
“Ito po ay bahagi ng programa ni Mayor Pogi para sa environment. Bukod po sa layunin na sanayin anf ating mga kababayan natin ang waste segregation sa kanilang mga kabahayan, nais po nating mabawasan ang paggamit ng plastik,” Calaguas said.
The said collected plastics will be recycled into brick pavers, facilitated by City Engineer Donato Dizon and the Environmental Management System, Calaguas says.
“Employees will be trained in the recycling process, which will be overseen by Engr. Dizon himself,” Calaguas mentioned.
According to Engr. Dizon, one of the two purchased plastic shredder machines has already arrived and is now operating at the facility.
“Mayroon pa pong isang parating na machine na mas malaki,” Engr. Dizon said.
The machine, he added, can accommodate even stiff plastic like monoblock chairs.
“When it comes to the limit of plastic to be shredded, wala pong limit. Kayang-kaya pong mag-operate,” Engr. Dizon shared.
Engr. Dizon also said that only trained employees will be solely assigned to make the brick pavers.
The Walang Plastikan, Plastik Palit Bigas project was launched in January 2022 by Mayor Lazatin. Redemption trucks have been visiting the city’s 33 barangays to exchange collected plastic from Angeleño household into rice, on a 1:1 ratio, via schedule.
City officials led by Calaguas, Dizon and Executive Assistant Reina Manuel donated rice cookers to residents who got the most number of rice in the initial implementation of the program.
To recall, through the efforts of Mayor Lazatin, the city also acquired Bilis Walis truck, a truck mounted street sweeper, the first of its kind in Pampanga.