RP gets ADB grant to clean up trash

MANILA: The Philippines has received a US$1.25 million technical assistance grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help the government stem a garbage crisis, the Manila-based bank said Thursday.

It would be used to set up refuse processing centers and recycling facilities to reduce solid waste after the forced closure of two main city dumps, a bank statement said.

A law banning the use of incinerators has added to Manila's garbage problem and added "urgency to the need to identify alternative ways of disposing medical waste" generated by Manila's more than 713 hospitals and clinics, it said.

ADB's assistance also includes planning for an integrated solid waste management system in communities as well as training personnel for the government's National Solid Waste Management Commission.

Environment officials have said Manila's 12 million residents generate an average of up to 10 tons of trash everyday. Many of these find their way into sewers, vacant lots and rivers. --AFP