Solid waste management

In technical note, the term ‘solid waste’ is used to include all non-liquid wastes generated by human
activity and a range of solid waste material resulting from the disaster, such as general domestic garbage
such as food waste, ash and packaging materials; human faeces disposed of in garbage; emergency waste
such as plastic water bottles and packaging from other emergency supplies; rubble resulting from the
disaster; mud and slurry deposited by the natural disaster; and allen trees and rocks obstructing transport
and communications. Other specialist wastes, such as medical waste from hospitals and toxic waste from
industry, will also need to be dealt with urgently, but they are not covered by this technical note (World
Health Organization, 2011).

The Municipal Council enacted an ordinance establishing solid waste management also known as
“Perkash Fashura Ordinance Na Isadanga.”The ordinance prohibits dumping of garbage anywhere other
than those recognized and established garbage facilities; dumping of unclean and unsegregated waste at
the redemption center/facility; discharging of human feces along the creeks and rivers; throwing of wastes
in creeks, rivers, public places such as roads, sidewalks and establishments; and burning of garbage
particularly non-biodegradable wastes. It also requires residents to practice segregation of wastes at
source. Reusable solid wastes such as bottles, plastics, cellophanes and papers shall be brought to the
barangay material recovery facility duly segregated or directly to the agent-buyers. Non-recyclable
materials and special solid wastes will be brought to the material recovery facility, while hazardous
wastes or chemicals will be disposed in coordination with concerned government agencies according to
prescribed methods. The local government is responsible for collecting reusable, recyclable and non-
biodegradable waste materials from the material recovery facilities; and transporting them to the recycling
centers and or to the municipal material recovery facility. Collection of segregated solid wastes is
scheduled per barangay (Saley, 2012).

3R’s (Reduce Reuse Recycle)

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined a three tiered approach for managing solid
waste. Each of these should be practiced to reduce the amount material headed for final disposal. They are
in order of importance: REDUCE, the best way to manage solid waste.Don't create waste in the first
place! Buy only what you need. Use all that you buy. Avoid heavily packaged products. Avoid disposable
items like paper plates and plastic silverware. Buy the largest size package for those items that you use
are often. REUSE, the better way to manage solid waste. Reuse items use them over and over until they
are completely worn out. RECYCLE, the good way to manage solid waste.Recycle means taking
something old and making it into something new. In Seminole County, all residents who live in a single
family home can recycle right in front of their house. Those residents who live in apartments or
condominiums can drop off their recyclables at several different locations. Old newspapers, #1 and #2
plastic bottles, green, clear and brown glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans can all be recycled
at the curb. Simply rinse out containers and remove lids. That's it; it's very simple and very worthwhile.
Not only does it keep items out of the landfill, recycling conserves natural resources (Seminole County
Government, 2012).
 Australia may be a large country, but we live in a throw-away society that is rapidly filling it with our
waste. Our insatiable desire to constantly upgrade disposable technology and consume over-packaged
products has continued unabated for decades. At the same time however, there has been a trend away
from both burning waste in incinerators and burying it in landfills. Waste management policies now seek
to minimize waste disposal by reducing its generation and by reusing and recycling. This book reveals the
extent of our growing waste problem and examines the waste and recycling practices of households, and
includes many tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle. Topics include green waste, plastics, glass, paper,
metal and electronic waste (Healey, 2010).

RELATED STUDIES

Foreign studies
A detailed investigation was made regarding the methods of practices associated with sources,
quantity generated, collection, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal of Municipal solid
waste in Mysore City. The data concerning to SWM in Mysore was obtained through questionnaire,
individual field visit, interacting with people and authentic record of municipal corporation.
Photographic evidences were also made about generation, storage, collection, transportation,
treatment and disposal of MSW. This study reveals that the present system of MSWM in Mysore
City is not satisfactory based on Municipal Solid Waste Management & Handling Rules 2000
(Chandra, et al., 2009).

Another case study across North America conducted by Whoilistic Environmental Consulting
(WEC, 2007), yard and food waste make up over a quarter of all the ordinary garbage we throw
away. That's 25% by weight. In the U.S., that 25% is almost equally divided between yard waste
(32.6 million tons, or 12.8% of all MSW) and food scraps (31.7 million tons, or 12.5%). And then
there's all the other organic stuff that could be composted: all the clothing, towels, and bedding made
of organic fibers, plus wood, old furniture and sawdust. Then there's paper, which at 83 million tons
accounts for another 30% of municipal solid waste. As of 2006, the latest year for which figures are
available, over 64% of the yard waste we throw away was recovered and composted, as was 54.5%
of the paper and cardboard. Only 2.6% of food waste reached a compost heap.

Local studies
The experiences and practices of household waste management of people in a barangay (village) in
Manila, Philippines are documented. The data were gathered through an interview with household
members using open-ended questions. Interviews were also conducted with garbage collectors as
well as scavengers. Results showed that the households generated an average of 3.2 kg of solid waste
per day, or 0.50 kg/capita/day. The types of wastes commonly generated are food/kitchen wastes,
papers, PET bottles, metals, and cans, boxes/cartons, glass bottles, cellophane/plastics, and
yard/garden wastes. The respondents segregate their wastes into PET bottles, glass bottles, and other
waste (mixed wastes). No respondents perform composting. It is worth noting, however, that burning
of waste is not done by the respondents. The households rely on garbage collection by the
government. Collection is done twice daily, except Sundays, and household members bring their
garbage when the garbage truck arrives. However, there are those who dump their garbage in non-
designated pick-up points, usually in a corner of the street. The dumped garbage becomes a breeding
ground for disease-causing organisms. Some household respondents said that it is possible that the
dumping in certain areas caused the dengue fever suffered by some of their family members. Mothers
and household helpers are responsible for household waste management. Scavengers generally look
for recyclable items in the dumped garbage. All of them said that it is their only source of income,
which is generally not enough for their meals. Most of the respondents said that garbage collection
and disposal is the responsibility of the government. The results of the study showed that RA 9003,
also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is not fully implemented in
Metro Manila (Bernardo, 2008).

This study highlights the results of the study that was conducted to analyze the solid waste
management practices of the waste generators, and the extent of their compliance with the Republic
Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. The study was
conducted in Bacolod City, Philippines in 2007. The findings of this study served as basis in
developing a handbook on solid waste management (Ballados, 2010).

The Motiong town government in Samar has vowed to intensify the implementation of its Solid
Waste Management Program after barangay chairmen here took at one-day seminar-workshop on the
program. The activity was held at the Legislative Building here last Wednesday, August 29.Motiong
Mayor Francisco M. Langi Sr. said 30 barangay chairmen of his municipality attended said seminar-
workshop sponsored by the town government conducted Municipal Planning and Development
Officer, Engr. NicasioPermejo. Langi said all the barangay chairmen were educated on the provisions
of the Solid Waste Management Act of 2003 so that they would be acquainted with and help
implement the law in their respective barangays and propagate environmental preservation. He said
the town government will strictly implement the “no segregation, no collection policy” in all of
Motiong’s barangays and urged the barangay officials to put up a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
where they can segregate bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste materials. Such materials can
be turned into a livelihood as, according to Langi, “there is money in junk” (Abrematea, 2012).

LEGAL BASES

Solid waste shall refer to all discarded household, commercial waste, non-hazardous institutional and
industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural waste, and other non-hazardous/non-
toxic solid waste.

Solid waste management shall refer to the discipline associated with the control of generation, storage,
collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner that is in accord
with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other
environmental considerations, and that is also responsive to public attitudes. Ecological solid waste
management shall refer to the systematic administration of activities which provide for segregation at
source, segregated transportation, storage, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid waste and
all other waste management activities which do not harm the environment.

Article 4 Recycling Program Section 26 of R.A 9003 Inventory of Existing Markets for Recyclable
Materials. The DTI shall within six (6) months from the effectively of this Act and in cooperation with
the Department, the DILG and other concerned agencies and sectors, publish a study of existing markets
for processing and purchasing recyclable materials and the potential steps necessary to expand these
markets. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, an inventory of existing markets for recyclable
materials, product standards for recyclable and recycled materials, and a proposal, developed in
conjunction with the appropriate agencies, to stimulate the demand for the production of products
containing post-consumer and recovered materials.

Disposal shall refer to the discharge, deposit, dumping, spilling, leaking or placing of any solid waste
into or in a land.
Section 25 of R.A 9003. Guidelines for Transfer Stations. Transfer stations shall be designed and
operated for efficient waste handling capacity and in compliance with environmental standards and
guidelines set pursuant to this Act and other regulations: Provided, That no waste shall be stored in such
station beyond twenty-four (24) hours. The siting of the transfer station shall consider the land use plan,
proximity to collection area, and accessibility of haul routes to disposal facility. The design shall give
primary consideration to size and space sufficiency in order to accommodate the waste for storage and
vehicles for loading and unloading of wastes.

Problems persist in school despite numerous efforts to implement a policy on solid waste policy. This
study described the impact of pupils and teachers’ involvement in problem identification and action
planning to implement a school policy on solid waste management (SWM). Descriptive design was
used utilizing quantitative and qualitative data. Waste analysis and classification study, workshop,
waste assessment and classification study, interview and, comparative analysis were used to gather
and analyze data. Prior to action plan implementation, it was found that pupils had poor knowledge
on segregation, and most did not segregate waste. Pupils wanted competition-based activities for
SWM. To empower pupils, the teachers utilized active learning strategies and practical applications.
Pupils were motivated to do segregation primarily by teachers’ encouragement and desire to win in
competition-based solid waste management activities. Study concluded that awareness is
inadequate to ensure participation of pupils in waste segregation. Learning by doing is indeed a
good start toward a greater solution for these problems. Allowing waste generators to participate in
the planning and implementation of SWM may create a great impact for the success of the plan. The
study recommends to design school-based SWM Program that builds positive attitudes, knowledge
and skills in segregation, continuously educates pupils to build their attitude, develops a culture that
gives importance to cleanliness of the surroundings and a culture that sees segregation as a normal
routine, implements projects that utilize teaching and learning strategies that integrate meaningful
community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experiences, creates and
imposes policies that will lead to decreased residual wastes, and to integrate waste management
with composting in the grade school curriculum https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=10671