TARLAC CITY (PIA) -- Department of Science and Technology (DOST) allocated a total of P495,000 for the upgrading of Materials Recovery Facility in barangay Tibag, Tarlac City. 
 
The project aims to manage and convert biodegradable waste of Tarlac City into an organic fertilizer and charcoal briquettes that will benefit farmers, schools and small businesses. 
 
It also includes the city government’s procurement of biomass shredder, drum kiln, electric/hydraulic briquettor, charcoal/binder mixer and plate carbonizer to improve their solid waste management system. 
 
“About 51 percent of the approximately 265.5 tons of waste daily generated by Tarlac City are biodegradable. The city government can save up to P6,800 daily in processing eight tons of biodegradable waste as they will no longer have to pay P850.00 per ton of waste dumped at the landfill,” DOST Provincial Director Karen Dañez said. 
 
She added that produced fertilizer will be given free to farmers, barangays, and communities in need. “Briquettes will be distributed for free to barangays and sold to private entrepreneurs,” she stated. 
 
For her part, Mayor Cristy Angeles noted the project will help the local community and the environment. 
 
Moreover, it adheres to the city government’s 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan that targets to resolve the problem on solid waste in Tarlac City. 
 
As first of its kind in Central Luzon, Project MIST is a collaborative effort of DOST Tarlac, provincial government of Tarlac and its local government units (LGUs) in partnership with Tarlac State University and Philippine Information Agency. 
 
It targets to bring substantial science and technology innovations closer to the people with the active involvement of LGUs.  (CLJD/TJBM-PIA 3)