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A broader look at today’s business Sunday, November 30, 2025 Vol. 21 No. 53
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‘NUKE’ IT: PLASTIC WASTE RECYCLING GETS A BOOST n
P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 20 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK
Nuclear recycling hub could strengthen circular economy in PHL industries, experts say
SCIENCE and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi officially unveil the Post-radiation Reactive Extrusion of Plastic Wastes (PREx) Prototype House at the PNRI grounds in Quezon City. DOST-PNRI
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‘Experimental Plastic House’
By John Eiron R. Francisco
OCAL scientists are optimistic that radiation-enabled recycling hubs will support Philippine industries in creating circular value chains by converting plastic waste into construction-grade materials for infrastructure projects. Speaking at the recent International High-Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics in Pasay City, Jordan Madrid, a research specialist at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), said the Post-radiation Reactive Extrusion of Plastic Wastes (PREx Plastic) Project has produced promising results. Laboratory and pilot-scale tests showed that recycled plastics treated with radiation became significantly stronger, and the team has already conducted industrial-scale trials in partnership with Envirotech Waste Recycling Inc., a locally based company that collects single-use plastics from communities and businesses and turns them into items such as school chairs, furniture, and construction materials. The PREx process mainly targets low-value plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, the type of plastics commonly discarded after use. When these plastics undergo electron beam irradiation, their mechanical properties improve substantially, Madrid explained. He added that after processing, the recycled plastics can be deployed in real structures as durable products such as tiles, planks, boards, and bricks. Most importantly, he said, the team aims to ensure that at the end of these materials’ service life, they can be recycled again with minimal complications. “We are really fortunate that our vision of converting plastic waste into construction materials without using additional chemicals and without using high temperature catalysts is being shared by our private company partner,” he said. Winchester Lemen, president of EnviroTech Waste Recycling,
said tests conducted on the treated plastics confirmed measurable improvements in both flexural and compressive strength. Flexural strength, which measures how much a material can bend before breaking, remained consistently above 3,000 pounds per square inch (psi) in tests conducted from August 2024 to July 2025. In July 2025, it reached 3,491 psi, reflecting a 53-percent improvement compared with untreated plastic. Compressive strength, which indicates how much pressure a material can withstand before being crushed, also showed gains. Measurements ranged from 3,378 psi in June 2024 to a peak of 3,821 psi in February 2025, before settling at 3,653 psi in July 2025, roughly a 50 percent increase over the original plastic mix. “The results obtained across a year of continuous testing are reproducible and consistent, ensuring a stable and higher value output,” Lemen said. “This is what industry needs, reliability, scalability, and a clear business case.” He added that the technology transforms low-value plastics into premium-grade materials, opening new revenue streams, creating jobs in sorting and processing, and increasing income for waste pickers. At the same time, he said, it could reduce emissions, ease pressure on landfills, and produce materials that can complement or even compete with virgin plastics, wood, and concrete. “This demonstrates the type of circular economy discussed in international forums,” he said. Yet, Madrid emphasized, “We are not replacing industrial practices. We are contributing to upgrading the existing industrial practices.”
PLASTIC pellets being irradiated at PNRI's Electron Beam facility as part of the reprocessing and recycling technology. DOST-PNRI
ON Tuesday morning, Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi officially unveiled the PREx prototype house with dimensions of approximately 4800 × 5000 × 4000 mm at the PNRI grounds in Quezon City. Madrid described the structure as “still experimental,” noting that it serves as a demonstration of how the material performs under real-world conditions, including exposure to weather and other environmental elements. “But, basically, that will showcase how nuclear-enabled recycling can transform low-value plastic waste into building components,” he said. Madrid added that the use of electron beam technology is not just environmentally significant but could also support industrial development. Early adoption, he said, allows countries to explore new manufacturing value chains for materials such as boards, tiles, planks, and other outdoor construction products that are more durable and sustainable. He also highlighted that the rising demand for sustainable construction materials makes technologies like PREx valuable for providing recyclers with consistent quality and reliability for longterm projects. “Plastic waste is a global problem, but solutions need to be local, scalable, and economically viable,” Madrid said, emphasizing the potential of turning discarded plastics into usable construction resources. It is reported that the Philippines generates about 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, making it the world’s thirdlargest contributor to marine plastic pollution. Globally, plastic pollution amounts to roughly 20 million tons per year, equivalent to 2,000 garbage trucks dumped daily, yet only 9 percent of it is recycled. (Read here: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/11/26/ plastic-pollution-hits-phl- devtblueprint/) “Within this challenge lies a remarkable opportunity,” Madrid said. “Our goal at PNRI is to see plastic waste not as trash but
as feedstock for different manufacturing processes. That is what NUTEC Plastics is all about.” Lemen added, “PREx and NUTEC Plastics show that when science and industry join forces, we can transform the world’s most challenging waste into opportunity and value.” NUTEC Plastics, an initiative launched by the IAEA, aims to help countries harness nuclear science to monitor and reduce plastic pollution. The Philippines is among nine pilot countries at the forefront of the program, leading global efforts in the plastics upcycling component of the NUTEC Plastics initiative. Meanwhile, PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla, responding to questions about whether PREx could address the country’s housing challenges, said scaling remains a key hurdle. He explained that processing the materials requires specialized irradiation facilities. “There is already one private facility, but more will be needed to integrate the materials into existing plastics markets,” Arcilla said. “If we can scale it up, it will benefit the industry.”
Solidum on circular economy mindset
SCIENCE and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the project is also part of a broader effort to shift mindsets at both the research and community levels. “We work with cities, towns, and even provinces to develop smart and sustainable communities,” he said. “One key change is teaching people to see plastic not as waste, but as value. If you see plastic as money, you won’t throw it away.” He added that the government is combining science, technology, and innovation with business strategies through the Science, Technology, and Innovation for Circular Economy framework. This approach, he said, involves close collaboration with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as small and medium enterprises, to ensure that research and development aligns with market needs. “The hardest part is scaling new innovations, but getting the market perspective early makes it more viable,” Solidum said.
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 58.7920 n JAPAN 0.3762 n UK 77.8465 n HK 7.5575 n CHINA 8.3040 n SINGAPORE 45.3432 n AUSTRALIA 38.4088 n EU 68.1752 n KOREA 0.0402 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.6728 Source: BSP (November 28, 2025)