WASTE CONVERSION: PULVERIZED PLASTIC TO CONCRETE BLOCKS RATIONALE With a rapidly growing population, the Philippines is now facing

different challenges in every corner. One of these challenges is greatly related with the problem of waste management. With a minimally controlled population growth and lack of disposal sites, solid waste has become a crisis to many cities and even to small and medium-sized municipalities. Also, the inability of the authorities to manage solid waste has caused serious health risks especially in those areas which are vastly populated. On a similar note, inadequate solid waste management systems have posed a weightier problem in cities. In one particular case, when the authorities have decided to close the largest dumpsites in Manila in the year 2000, combined with the incapacity of smaller dumpsites, it resulted to dumping of large amount of waste along the city streets, empty lots and even in the waterways and bays in and around the city. In a medium-sized city like General Santos City, the same problem occurs. Considering the fact that General Santos is one of the most populous urban centers in the country, the issue on waste management cannot be avoided. In the year 2009, General Santos City is projected to have generated more or less 300 tons of wastes daily. And much of these waste find their way to Sarangani bay thus threatening the fisheries and tourism industry in the City. Accordingly, with incapacity of dumpsites to cater huge amount of wastes, mere dumping could not solve the problem. In fact, it barely minimizes the predicament. However, there are different technologies which have been developed in order to recycle waste materials or convert them into another usable form. In Teresa, Rizal, an Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility has been established purposed to systematically produce by-products from wastes. One of the most popular by-product are the concrete blocks or most well-known as hollow blocks. Considering the vast amount of waste that the city is generating every single day, developing a waste conversion facility would be of great help in the management of waste disposal of this urban center. By converting into concrete blocks, plastics would become reused for a better purpose. If this venture is realized, it will not only minimize dumped wastes but will also generate income for the people. OBJECTIVE This project aims to manage and utilize large amount of wastes particularly plastic by converting them into concrete blocks or most well known as hollow blocks. This is for the purpose of minimizing the direct problems of waste mismanagement. Also, the project will provide additional income in the municipality through selling the hollow blocks made from recycled waste. PROJECT DESCRIPTION