PYROLYSIS The Anti-Hero

A protest held at Pantawan, Rizal Boulevard organized by local environment groups caused a stir amongst Dumaguete locals.

Sillimanians, environmental activists, and waste workers spoke out on Jan. 28 against the pyrolysisgasification technology the city purchased as a supposed solution to the steadily increasing waste brought to a Central Materials Recovery Facility at the boundary of Barangays Camanjac and Candau-ay.

The machine was bought after the city failed to establish a sanitary landfill as proposed in the approved plan to close the 57-year-old dumpsite in Barangay Candau-ay.

With the local government pushing for this relatively new technology, environmentalists were quick to note the possible dangers this incineration machine could bring to the environment and public health. At the forefront was Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, who is an expert on pyrolysis after having studied it for decades.

Dr. Emmanuel warned the Dumaguete City Council during their open hour session on July 29, 2020, about the harmful effects of pyrolysis on the people of Dumaguete, Sibulan, San Jose, and Bacong. The effects include various types of cancer, female and male reproductive and developmental problems, nervous system disorders, increased risk of heart disease and diabetes, and several others.

The late Vice Mayor Alan Cordova said the matter needed to be discussed further. A follow-up meeting was scheduled and all the environmental group representatives had shown up at the appointed time but were informed half an hour later that the meeting was postponed.

The meeting was rescheduled but the environmental groups were only notified just an hour before the meeting, and thus no representatives attended due to short notice. The majority of the council approved the resolution to fund the procurement of the machine shortly after the meeting, without hearing about its environmental and health consequences.

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Editorial

As of writing, the equipment needed to test dioxin emissions that are emitted by the pyrolysis machine’s operations is very expensive. This makes it difficult to continuously monitor the varying levels of dioxin emissions. Thus far, no dioxin test results of the pyrolysis-gasification technology have been released to the public.

In addition, there is a glaring issue of a lack of public consultation and taking into account the advice of professionals on the matter.

We from the Weekly Sillimanian call on Sillimanians to take a stand on this matter. Pyrolysis is a matter of environmental and public health. Consultation with the public regarding their thoughts on whether this technology would be the best possible solution for the city and whether they are agreeable to the effects of the dioxins should have been done first. Silliman and its constituents are advocates for human rights, environmental protection, and preservation. This is a matter that affects everyone.

Pyrolysis is not the right solution to the waste problem building up at landfills. Contrary to some beliefs, incineration is a harmful method of getting rid of waste. This incineration technology may be a convenient short-term solution to the pile-up of solid waste, however, its long-term effects heavily outweigh its current convenience. Rather, allocating the funds towards proper implementation of waste segregation protocols and promoting zero waste movements could have been a solution that would have brought Dumaguete a step closer to sustainability. Local efforts to kickstart a circular economy model and turn Dumaguete into a Zero Waste city exist, so why not use the dumpsite closure as an opportunity to further these efforts?

The pyrolysis machine creates problems from an environmental to a human level, and no one is exempt. How can it be so easy for the local government to overlook the basic right of its constituents to a healthy living and working environment? tWS

People Come and Go

IVAN ANTHONY A. ADARO | Writer, tWS

Looking into her wilting eyes, I reached out for her hand which holds a special type of warmth that never fails to spread a sense of tranquility over my soul. As I watched her dying breath seep through her fragile body, I kept telling myself over and over again, “No! This is not happening! It’s all just inside my head!” Sadly, when nature–the same type of nature that breathes life, paints stories, and creases time–does her bidding, there is nothing we can do when she finally makes her choice.

I hate it. I absolutely hate it! I hate how cold and fake everyone’s touches feel when they hold me. I hate how I can no longer feel that distinctive warmth in her hands that only she can give me. I feel like I’m crumbling. I feel like I’m suffocating. But why is it that life still continues to go on?

If I could go back into the past, will I ever be able to undo nature’s untimely bidding and ease the burden I am suffering now? Or would nature just keep throwing me back to where I am standing right now just so that I’ll never escape from the problems that I should be facing?

This is a story of my most traumatic experience—a story about saying the most painful goodbyes. And if there’s anything that I have learned from the past recollections that I have puzzled together around those experiences, it is that people will eventually come and go.

As you continue to expand and evolve in this journey called life, goodbyes are inevitable. No matter how painful it is, you’ll have to someday say goodbye to people, places, principles, philosophies, and parts of yourself that no longer serve you—to things that no longer resonate with you, your new environment, and your new profound self. Still, it is easier said than done because human as we are, the hardest part of letting go is our pride and ego. It desperately wants to cling onto something familiar–something comfortable–even if it dangerously causes you pain and misery.

Situations like these often happen many times throughout our lives, and honestly, these things are normal—may it be from pain caused by a death of a loved one, adjustments made

Climate Solutions: We're not the problem; Infrastructure is!

LUKE EDWARD GALLARES | CBA

I believe it when Silliman University (SU) declared the Philippines to be in a state of “climate emergency.”

The drive now is to become more environmentally conscious by using tote bags, bringing fancy aqua flasks, and purchasing expensive stainless steel straws to save the environment. At least students have been making decisions in light of the situation.

I don’t think we—the students— are part of the problem. Sure, we may have that occasional environmentally apathetic Sillimanian walking in our venerable campus and littering everywhere. But for the most part, I believe that Sillimanians have a clean, green, and environmentallyconscious mindset.

The real problem is when you escape the city and go into the rural areas of Valencia, Dauin, and Sibulan, to name a few, with streets that do not have a weekly garbage-truck collection system. Smaller communitybased islands are even worse, like Apo Island, Sumilon Island,

Feature Writers Keisiah Dawn T. Tiaoson

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Lady Lynn W. Aplicano by moving from one stage of life to another, reconciliations discerned after thorough reflections, and others. However, keep in mind that we can always show our love to someone without needing to see or keep them and that there is joy found in letting go of burdens that weigh heavily on our shoulders. components into petroleum, carbon, and more. However, there is little to no research being done on pyrolysis. and other provinces such as Bohol (Pamilacan, Balicasag, and more), where there are dismal attempts at proper garbage disposal and collection. The people in these far flung communities tend to burn their trash or litter everywhere simply because proper garbage disposal is inconvenient. After all, mitigating climate change is the least of their worries when the struggle of making enough money and putting food on the table is more pressing and urgent.

Saying goodbye to someone or something that you hold so dearly can be difficult sometimes. It means letting go and preparing to hurt–and be hurt–in the process. However, acknowledging and accepting the situation you are in makes you grow stronger and more mature. That’s why never be afraid to let go when clinging on tighter just makes you hurt more. Never be afraid to close a door that is no longer meant for you because this could be an opportunity for you to open a new one and for you to make more space for what comes next.

Goodbyes are inevitable— painful, yet essential to your development. Accepting and understanding changes when things shift and take their natural course is a way to ease the burden. But if there’s anything worth fighting for, let it be your happiness found in embracing impermanence and the natural flow of things–of people–that come and go.

The solution is not just as simple as expanding the garbage collection system. Unusable, disposable plastics are not only harmful to the environment— breaking them down, upcycling them, and reusing them don’t help since upcycling could still cause fair amounts of microplastics to break down and trickle into the underground water systems.

A good solution might be pyrolysis which is a type of disposal where plastic is burnt or heated within a vacuum, breaking down the

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What about discarded electronics? I know Silliman University has a stockpile of broken or destroyed computers hidden somewhere within the College of Business and Administration because a teacher discussed it in class. He mentioned that these broken electronics were stockpiled because there is no proper disposal point for these within the city, and so our school is forced to stockpile in the meantime.

While I’m proud of us students and the SU staff for becoming champions of environmentalism, let’s call on our government, mayors, congressmen, and leaders to make it easier for the masses to throw their garbage properly. Let’s include proper waste disposal in every new administration’s three-year plans. Let’s call on more investments in technologies for waste disposals other than landfills. Let’s call for a more holistic approach to garbage collection and disposal.

Because at the end of the day, we’re just treating the symptoms, it’s time we focus on the cure.

The Weekly Sillimanian is published every week by the students of Silliman University, with editorial and business addresses at 1/F Oriental Hall, Silliman University, Hibbard Avenue, Dumaguete City 6200, Philippines, SU PO Box 24. Telephone number (35) 4226002 loc. 243.

Opinions expressed in the columns are those of the columnists and not of tWS or of Silliman University. Comments, questions, and suggestions are highly appreciated. All submitted manuscripts become the property of tWS. Manuscripts will be edited for brevity and clarity.