Big market seen for paper charcoal
Bacolod City -- There is a market waiting for charcoal made of paper.
Mona Jardin stressed this point during her recent demonstration of paper charcoal making to more than 80 members of the organized eco-aids or waste pickers at the dump site of Brgy. Felisa.
The Bacolod City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) tapped Jardin of the Diara Entrerprises to introduce this new technology with the aim that eco-aids will adopt it as their alternative livelihood other than waste picking.
Jardin said papers are soaked in water for three days and then compressed in a mechanical devise releasing as much water as possible before it is dried under sun light for three days.
The best result shows a compressed product about half the size of a sardine tin can, light and dry. Five pieces of that and can already boil rice and cook a viand.
It is more economical compared to wood charcoal because it is made of paper and decreases the dependence of households in using wood-based charcoal, therefore, environment friendly.
"The best place to produce the product is here because paper is abundant," she said.
Jardin admits the technology is not yet perfected as the product can still be improved and the costing has yet to be established.
"That is why we are coordinating with the DILG to develop the technology and frame-up its marketing aspect," she said. (PIA-LOL)