Handout 3 - Module 3 Solid Wastes

I.
Ecological Waste Management in Communities
A. Solid waste defined; types of solid wastes
Solid wastes are any discarded (abandoned or considered waste-like) materials

(Official Gazette, 2001). It can be classified into three (3) types depending on its
source: household (municipal waste), industrial (hazardous waste), and biomedical
or hospital wastes (infectious waste) as cited by Singh and Ramanathan in 2013.
Household or domestic wastes refer to solid wastes generated by people in their

residential or dwelling places as a result of day-to-day living activities
(WebLaws.org, 2013). Moreover, industrial wastes are waste produced from
business services and manufacturing activities (Toowoomba Regional Council, n.d.)
while biomedical or hospital wastes are medicinal products or hospital equipment
that are discarded or considered useless produced in the diagnosis, treatment,
immunization of humans and/or animals or research (Antimicrobial Resistance
Network, 2007) .
Below are the four categories of garbage and examples according to Singh and
Ramanathan in 2013:
 Organic waste: Kitchen waste, vegetables, flowers, leaves, fruits.

 Toxic waste: Old medicines, paints, chemicals, bulbs, spray cans, fertilize,
pesticide containers, batteries, shoe polish
 Recyclable: Paper, glass, metals, plastics
 Soiled: Hospital waste such as cloth with body fluids
B. Facts and Figures on solid waste management at the national and local
levels
The Environment Management Bureau- Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (EMB-DENR) stated that in the Philippines, the solid waste problem is
most serious in urban centers, particularly in Metro Manila, because of the high
population density, the high consumption rates, and the concentration of packaged
goods, some of which are made with raw materials that are toxic and
nonbiodegradable. The 2016 data on waste projection shows that NCR Region got
the highest waste generation with 9, 212.92projected tons of waste per day
(National Solid Waste Management Commission [NSWM], 2016) . With these tons
of waste, 52% are biodegradable, 41% are recyclable, 7% residuals (NSWMC,
2016). . At the national level, report shows that in 2008-2013, 56.7% of solid
waste came from residential waste, 27.1% commercial, 16.2% from other sources
like industrial and institutional wastes (Environmental Management Bureau and
National Solid Waste Management Commission, 2015). From these wastes,
52.31% are bio-degradable, 27.8% are recyclables, 17.8% residuals, and 1.93%
special waste (Environmental Management Bureau and National Solid Waste
Management Commission, 2015.
These mean that the bulk of solid waste in the country comes from households,
followed by commercial or industrial waste which is alarming because these can be
toxic and hazardous. On the other hand, recyclable wastes constitute plastics
(38%), paper and cardboards (31%), and metal, glass, textile and rubber (31%).
These wastes are often improperly handled and just thrown anywhere polluting the
environment, especially water bodies.
In Laguna de Bay, there are 8.4 million of people residents living around the lake
and an estimated of 60% of this population dump their solid and liquid waste
directly through the lake’s tributaries which is around 10% of the 4,100 metric tons
of wastes produced by the residents in the area (LLDA, 2005 as cited by UP Open
University, n.d). This poor solid waste management have negative impacts on
health and environment.
II. Impacts of Unmanaged Solid Wastes
Solid wastes, when improperly managed, can put communities at risk of injury and
infection. Groups of people living in a place where there is no proper waste disposal
method, people living close to a waste dump, children, waste workers, and animals
are vulnerable to the adverse effects of solid wastes (Alam and Ahmade, 2013).
A. Health Impacts of unmanaged solid wastes on the community
Solid wastes pollute the water and increase the risk of water-borne diseases.
Industrial wastes can be toxic and can contaminate the water bodies with heavy
metals that can cause illnesses to humans and other organisms. Furthermore, study
shows that exposure to solid wastes can lead to low birth weight, cancer, congenital
malformations, neurological disease, nausea and vomiting, and respiratory diseases
(Alam and Ahmade, 2013)
B. Impacts of unmanaged solid wastes on the environment (flooding,

pollution, etc.)
Aside from the health impacts on people, unmanaged solid wastes have also
negative effects on the environment. These solid wastes aggravate other problems
such as disasters caused by flooding due to clogged waterways. Garbage obstruct
or clog the flow of water on rivers, canals, and other wetlands, worsening the
flooding situation in an area. Solid wastes are also major contributors in rendering
some wetlands to become biologically dead, such as some portions of the Pasig
River.
Moreover, Alam and Ahmade mentioned in 2013, that solid waste causes mercury
toxicity of water bodies, plastics in the ocean which are ingested by birds, high algal
population in rivers and lakes causing oxygen deprivation of marine organisms and
to fish kill, and degradation of water and soil quality.
III. Innovative activities to help manage solid wastes in homes, schools

and communities
With the prevalent problems of solid waste management in the Philippines, there is
a need for interventions that are multi-sectoral in nature.. Below are some of the
examples of the projects and activities that can be done by the youth and other
stakeholders to help address such problems.
A. Sachet Recovery Project (SRP)
The SRP aims to empower the youth, and other sectors to take active role in solid
waste management. Also, this intervention targets to reduce the amount of sachets
being dumped in wetlands.
Post-consumer waste, such as sachets from shampoo, dishwashing liquid, laundry

soap, and the likes are being collected and used as one of the materials for paver
production or brick-making. In an ongoing partnership between an industry and
the SCPW, 170 kilos of sachets can be converted into 1000 pieces of pavers or
bricks. The project encourages the participation of different sectors such as local
government units, industry and school. The pavers are donated back to the schools
that collected the sachets and are being used as flooring in classrooms or walkways
in their school campuses.
B. Wetland Clean-up with Information Campaign
Clean-up activities are more effective when it is accompanied with an information

campaign. Without the latter, the area will tend to return to its polluted state again
because the people will continue throwing garbages indiscriminately and using more
plastics if they are unaware of the consequences of this kind of practice and of
proper solid waste management.
The organizers may hold short seminars or forum before the clean-up event,
commitment setting activities and short program, or produce IEC materials to raise
awareness. This activity should be done at the community level (Barangay or Sitio)
and be part of a solid waste management program in order to sustain the interest
of the people. Eventually, these activities when done regularly will instill in the
community the values of waste management and influence behavior that
predispose waste segregation at source. When this happens, clean-ups might not
be anymore necessary except when the community needs to show solidarity in their
solid waste management program.
C. Composting and Home/School Gardens
Composting is a natural process of decomposition of organic waste that yields

compost, which is rich in nutrients and an excellent medium for growing plants
(University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2013). With composting, the waste
will not carelessly be thrown or left rotten, and the amount of disposable garbage
will be reduced. It also recycles the nutrients in the soil and is very effective with
home and school gardening since the organic fertilizer that will be produced from
composting can be used instead of chemical fertilizers. It also increases the soil’s
ability to hold water and help the soil retain more of the plant nutrients (University
of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2013).
With the bulk of kitchen produced in home and schools,composting can be easily
done even by youth.
IV. Field observation of solid waste management in the community and

crafting of activity to help manage SW.
Field observation activity is taken to expose the participants to the community

surroundings and to personally see and closely observe the lake and the lakeshore
communities, and the existing problems and issues thereof.
In this trip, the participants are divided into groups and facilitated by teachers and
the organizers on gathering of data. The participants will be asked to observe the
community and take note these observations. To substantiate the data, the
participants can be tasked also to do interviews to the residents and officials in the
barangay.
After the trip, the students will prepare assess the data they have collected and
analyze it. Below is sample format of tabulating the data that will be gathered:
How the Community What can we do? How the Community Will
Looks Like Today Look Like 5 Years from Now
(action points)
(Current State) (Vision)
The facilitator will then process the data after all the reporting and guide them on
crafting their action plans.
References:
Alam, P. and Ahmade K. (2013).Special Issue of International Journal Development

and Green Economics. Impact of Solid Waste on Health and the
Environment. Vol. 2, I-1. Pp. 167-168
Antimicrobial Resistance Network (2007). Pakistan Antimicrobial Resistance

Network. Hospital Waste Management. Retrieved June 15, 2016 from
http://www.parn.org.pk/index_files/HOSPITALWASTE.html
National Solid Waste Management Commission (2016). Solid Waste-

Dashboard.Retrieved June 23, 2016 from
http://119.92.161.4/nswmc4/default3.aspx
Official Gazette (2001). Republic Act No. 9003. Retrieved June 14, 2016 from
http://www.gov.ph/2001/01/26/republic-act-no-9003-s-2001/
Singh, J., and Ramanathan, AL. (2010). Solid Waste Management: Present and
Future Challenges. New Delhi: I.K International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd
Toowoomba Regional Council (n.d). Toowoomba Region. Definition of domestic

waste versus commercial waste. Retrieved June 15, 2016 from
http://www.tr.qld.gov.au/environment-water-waste/waste-recycling/waste-
facilities-rubbish-tips/7413-what-is-domestic-waste
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2013). Food Waste Composting:

Institutional and Industrial Application. UGA Extension. Retrieved June 16,
2015 from http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=B1189
UP Open University (n.d). Laguna de Bay, the Largest Lake in the Philippines.
Faculty of Management and Developmental Studies. Retrieved June 16, 2016
from http://fmds.upou.edu.ph/index.php/academics/27-fmds-
community/178-lagunalake
WebLaws.org (2013). Oregon Law. Domestic Waste. Retrieved June 14, 2016 from
http://www.oregonlaws.org/glossary/definition/domestic_waste

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I.

Ecological Waste Management in Communities

A. Solid waste defined; types of solid wastes

Solid wastes are any discarded (abandoned or considered waste-like) materials

Household or domestic wastes refer to solid wastes generated by people in their

 Organic waste: Kitchen waste, vegetables, flowers, leaves, fruits.

The Environment Management Bureau- Department of Environment and Natural

II. Impacts of Unmanaged Solid Wastes

A. Health Impacts of unmanaged solid wastes on the community

B. Impacts of unmanaged solid wastes on the environment (flooding,

III. Innovative activities to help manage solid wastes in homes, schools

A. Sachet Recovery Project (SRP)

Post-consumer waste, such as sachets from shampoo, dishwashing liquid, laundry

B. Wetland Clean-up with Information Campaign

Clean-up activities are more effective when it is accompanied with an information

C. Composting and Home/School Gardens

Composting is a natural process of decomposition of organic waste that yields

IV. Field observation of solid waste management in the community and

Field observation activity is taken to expose the participants to the community

Alam, P. and Ahmade K. (2013).Special Issue of International Journal Development

Antimicrobial Resistance Network (2007). Pakistan Antimicrobial Resistance

National Solid Waste Management Commission (2016). Solid Waste-

Toowoomba Regional Council (n.d). Toowoomba Region. Definition of domestic

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2013). Food Waste Composting:

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