Bontoc women show way in composting garbage

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- For  communities  and  households  having mass  bio- degradable waste and problems of how to dispose these,  it is worth  learning from initiatives of  the Bontoc Market Vendors Association (BOMARVA) who turn garbage into fertilizer.

BOMARVA president Paula Acofo said seven members of the association started composting waste materials from the Bontoc market since December 2010.

Bio-degradable waste composed of rejected vegetable leaves, poultry feathers, coffee bean hulls, egg shells, meat bones and other waste materials from the market were collected by two men employed by the town’s local government unit.   

At least 185 kilos of decomposable waste is collected everyday to a high of 500 kilograms especially on Sunday which is a market day. The municipal LGU also provided tubs, hoes and shovels.

Every morning at six o’clock, garbage is hauled and transported in a kariton and brought to a lot located at sitio Eyeb.

The waste is mixed in three compost pits measuring two meters wide by two meters deep at a 340 square meter lot.

The bio- degradable waste is mixed every seven days for at least three months after which the composted material is ready for fertilizer.

It was sometime that Acofo’s agriculturist-nephew told her to mix the waste material on a flat ground and not necessarily in a pit.  “This is a better way,” Acofo said. 

Vendors used the composted material as fertilizer for the flowers sold and these currently sold at the Bontoc  market. The vendors  are financially rewarded for their  efforts while being assured of cleanliness and sanitation within the market premises.  The public too, is assured of a market clean enough to walk in and buy desired goods.

It was in August 2012 when the Provincial LGU continued the project when residents near Eyeb sitio complained of foul smell coming from the waste composting activity.

 Disposition of the Bontoc market waste is now under the management of the  provincial government under its waste management program with the  employment of two utility men to haul and mix the stuff  in the compositing site, including the employ of a driver and the hire of his truck to transport the waste to Lengsad forest located a little bit far from the central part of the town.

Acofo however  suggested  that the  truck  collect and bring the waste to the composting site at least  every other day and not wait  for four days before the  garbage emits a foul odor.