Pollutant-absorbing billboard made of plants rises in Edsa
loQal – Mon, Jul 4, 2011
By Anna Valmero
MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA—A 60-by 60-foot billboard along the northbound lane of Edsa is attracting curious commuters and motorists since it was unveiled last week.
The billboard is made of a species of Fukien tea plant that can absorb air pollutants.
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“This billboard helps alleviate air pollution within its proximate areas as it can absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” said botanist Anthony Gao.
In a year, each plant can absorb up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases mainly released by use of fossil fuels that contributes to global warming and climate change.
The structure symbolizes the partnership between World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and Coca-Cola Philippines to encourage Filipinos to make a positive difference for the environment.
The billboard also denotes the commitment of the partners to conserve critical watersheds and help Filipinos practice energy-saving habits beyond “Earth Hour.”
Lory Tan, president and chief executive of WWF Philippines, added that the billboard is made up of 100 percent recycled materials.
The 3,600 pots are old bottles of Coca-Cola products filled with potting mixture of industrial by-products and organic fertilizers to make it both stable and light-weight, said Tan.
The bottles are designed to hold the plants securely and to allow the plants to grow sideways. Additional holes were made for proper drainage and for holding the drip irrigation lines in place.
A drip or trickle irrigation saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters. The system is operated on a schedule to distribute water with nutrients to the plants, Tan said.
MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA—A 60-by 60-foot billboard along the northbound lane of Edsa is attracting curious commuters and motorists since it was unveiled last week.
The billboard is made of a species of Fukien tea plant that can absorb air pollutants.
“This billboard helps alleviate air pollution within its proximate areas as it can absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” said botanist Anthony Gao.
In a year, each plant can absorb up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases mainly released by use of fossil fuels that contributes to global warming and climate change.
The structure symbolizes the partnership between World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and Coca-Cola Philippines to encourage Filipinos to make a positive difference for the environment.
The billboard also denotes the commitment of the partners to conserve critical watersheds and help Filipinos practice energy-saving habits beyond “Earth Hour.”
Lory Tan, president and chief executive of WWF Philippines, added that the billboard is made up of 100 percent recycled materials.
The 3,600 pots are old bottles of Coca-Cola products filled with potting mixture of industrial by-products and organic fertilizers to make it both stable and light-weight, said Tan.
The bottles are designed to hold the plants securely and to allow the plants to grow sideways. Additional holes were made for proper drainage and for holding the drip irrigation lines in place.
A drip or trickle irrigation saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters. The system is operated on a schedule to distribute water with nutrients to the plants, Tan said.
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