We got a mountain of feedback on last weeks Consumerline re plastic garbage.

Our inbox overflowed

with e-mails from concerned readers. One of them comes from Leonardo Rodriguez, marketing manager
of Philkor Plastic Corporation, who writes: I am glad people now are becoming aware of the hazards of
irresponsible disposal of plastic waste. If only responsible citizens could be educated to segregate wastes
like plastic, they would not only be helping reduce solid waste or flooding, they would also help protect our
water resources.

Awarded an AITECH accreditation by the HUDCC board, Philkor Plastic Corporation (formerly Kotec
Plastic) manufactures plastic purifying septic tanks made from recycled PE plastic. The plant can
consume 20 tons of recycled PE plastic (sando bags, ice bags, trash bags, etc.) a day. Since 1997, it has
been in the forefront of educating the housing industry to avoid the use of concrete septic tanks, which
are a great source of pollution as they are prone to seepages the concrete gets cracked because of
the movement of the earths crust. These seepages contain deadly coli-form bacteria that can
contaminate our water table and lead to cholera, typhoid, and water-borne epidemics. Even without the
seepage, these septic tanks can only reduce the BOD and COD (biological and chemical pollutants) by
30 to 40 percent, thus still posing a threat to our water resources.

With this behemoth problem hanging over our heads, our leaders should ensure the protection of our
environment so that the next generations would have clean and safe drinking water.

Rodriguez makes this passionate pitch: By regulating the use of the two-chamber septic tanks and
replacing them with better and modern technology, we may still be able to protect our water supplies. In
view of these, I would like to introduce to everyone a technology being used in South Korea, the United
States, and many industrialized countries: the plastic purifying septic tank. This apparatus is made from
recycled scrap polyethylene plastic, a big source of solid waste pollution, mixed with lahar to come up
with a bioreactor type apparatus that has a BOD/COD reduction rate of 60-78 percent. This product is not
only durable but also very affordable.

Another plastic man, Winchester Lemen, president of Redwood Logistics Corporation, says that his
plastic waste collection goes back to the days when he started recovering plastics from the landfill in San
Jose, Rizal. The plastics made an eyesore and he felt sorry for the plastic bags that were not being
recovered. Thus, he started his fever-pitch campaign to collect plastic and turn it into something fantastic.
And now, Redwood Logistics Corporation can count on its collection in Isulan, some parts of Davao City
and Del Norte. Soon, they will be invading the posh, manicured subdivisions of Makati like Barangay San
Lorenzo.

Lemen explains, What we do is let the barangay officials do the sorting and segregation. After the
segregation, we bale it and store the baled materials. Baled materials will then be transported for
recycling into other plastic products. The process is repeated. The non-biodegradable materials we collect
include the soft plastics that accumulate and clog the drainage system of every town, resulting in flooding
in the area. With these efforts, we hope to eliminate or help minimize the problem of flooding. Were
already doing this in nearby cities and municipalities, namely Tagum, Sto. Tomas, Isulan, to name a few.
We hope we could duplicate this in Davao City so we could reduce the flooding in the area.

Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

Recycled beauties: The Invisible Sisters helps urban housewives earn a living by transforming piles

of colored wires from computers, used dry cleaner bags, and assorted old plastic bags into beautiful
handicrafts.
Check out Winchester Lemens website at www.brgypinoy.com.

Keep talking garbage now. Did you know that theres cash (a lot of it) in trash? Ever heard of or seen the
Invisible Sisters? It was Joanne Zapanta Andrada, writer/artist/environmentalist, who introduced me to the
Invisible Sisters, a visibly hardworking group.
 For a little history: It all began in the house of designer Ann Wizer in late August of 2008. Ann wanted to
put up a second livelihood project that would reuse waste and create a useful source of income. With
lessons learned from her Jakarta XSProject, she wanted to reach out to those (most of them probably
mothers) who couldnt leave home to work and give them work without leaving home. Inspired by eco-
warrior Ibu Bang Bang of Jakarta, who taught her how to crochet plastic bags, she went around and
asked some Filipinos if they knew how to crochet. Nobody knew. Undaunted, she converted her garage
into a workshop, filling it up with piles of colored wires from computers, used dry cleaner bags, and
assorted old plastic bags.

Today, the Invisible Sisters is no longer invisible but a growing guild of empowered urban mothers and
grandmothers who have no time to waste as they create beautiful works from discarded wastes.

Ann relates, Each week, they trickle in, bringing their children and grandchildren along. As they settle
down, we chat, joke around, share snacks, and then get to work. Stitch after stitch, they share ideas,
encourage one another, and learn. Before the Internet and chat rooms, women would gather to work at
handicrafts, including quilting, knitting, tatting, and lace-making. All of these arts are being lost.

Water, safe water!: This three-chamber plastic purifying septic tank from Philkor Plastic

Corporation is easy to install, time- and labor-saving, durable and affordable, and environment-friendly.
She happily adds, As a designer and mentor, I work with them one-on-one in helping them develop their
designs, do quality control, and suggest improvements (strengthening handles of bags, proper selection
of colors and materials, etc.). We take in new products and finally pay those whose bags have been sold.
They are all learning and earning, discovering their talents and developing their own sense of design and
color. Having little education, few opportunities, and so many children, for many, this is their first
experience in benefiting from their own talents and efforts.

Ann calls it simple problem solving. By simply connecting the dots, using tons of skill and imagination, and
whatever resources we have, we can create something from nothing.

Yes, with a dash of imagination, we can convert trash to cash

Septic tanks with partial biological processes are used to extract floating and removable substances.
Due to the sizing of 1,500 l per inhabitant, the wastewater passes through the system in approx. 10
days. This allows the microorganisms that have emerged in the sludge to effect partial breakdown of
the organic waste, in addition to pure mechanical purification (partial biological purification). These
septic tanks require 1,500 l per inhabitant and must comprise at least 3 chambers.
Low weight: can also be installed in difficult local conditions without a crane
Reasonable purchase and installation costs. Compare!
Low maintenance: maintenance or cleaning work can be performed through the shafts
Tanks can be used as rainwater harvesting systems after thorough cleaning

6,700 l
8,150 l
9,600 l
13,000 l
 Height Weight add to
order no. Length (mm) Width (mm)
(mm) (kg) notepad
On request 2450 2800 2010 150
max. Register number according to DIN Total volume
inhabitants 4261/1 (l)
4 2V292 6700: 2x3350

Never install plastic 'visquene' sheeting or cheap non-woven 'weed barrier' landscaping fabric in
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molding issues. Plastic sheeting becomes brittle and tears within a few years and the adhesive bond
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The primary place for geotextile fabric is above the gravel layer of your leach field
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"Are we allowed to install this geotextile soil fabric on our property" is not a
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site services, 'stamped' engineered plans, or 'advanced treatment' systems. This professional
grade geotextile polypropylene fabric has proven itself over time to be a superior performer, as
compared to other '20+ year landscaping fabrics'. Click here for our geotextile soil
fabric engineering specifications and material MSDS sheet.