Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices of Information Technology Students of Iloilo Doctors’ College at Their Homes

Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices of Information Technology Students of Iloilo Doctors’ College at their Homes

Diego Karlo S. Dosado
Jake J. Gabayeron
Raymond P. Ledesma
Rene Lorenz G. Rios
Regine S. Sarita
John Marco L. Soquera

Introduction
The overall challenge of sustainability is to avoid crossing irreversible thresholds that damage the life systems of earth while creating long-term economic, political, and moral arrangements that secure the wellbeing of present and future generations (Orr, 2005). A factor that could worsen the environmental crisis is the increasing accumulation of solid wastes which either have no counterpart in nature or which have not been properly disposed (Arias, 1998). Solid wastes have been identified as one of the most important environmental problems of urbanization. For an urban center with rapid urban migration, poor solid waste management practices are considered as disastrous activities.
It has been observed that Iloilo City which is classified as highly urbanized city in Iloilo, Philippines, is now facing solid wastes problem resulting to a lot of environmental problems such as flood, pollution, congestion and others. This is due to the existence of the fast-growing industries in the city, which encourage the rural people to flock in the city for better employment opportunities. Alarmed by this problem, the Local Government Units (LGUs) have realized the need to improve the methods and ways in handling the solid wastes to ensure protection of public health and environment from any harm caused by these wastes.
The Republic Act 9003 also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which stipulates the need to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management programs which shall ensure proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practices in ecological waste management excluding incineration. Those wastes must be deposited in Sanitary Landfill to ensure protection of public health and environment. The barangay shall be responsible for the collection, segregation, recycling of biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and reusable wastes. Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) will be established in every barangay or cluster of barangays (Section 1 of Rule XI of the IRR 9003).
The LGUs shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Act within their respective jurisdictions (RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code). Segregation and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level specifically for biodegradable, compostable and reusable wastes provided, that the collection of non-recyclable materials and special wastes shall be the responsibility of the municipality or city (Section 10 of RA 9003).
This paper provides an analysis of the solid waste management program of Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Philippines.
Abstract
This paper 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 Iloilo Doctors’ College at Iloilo, Philippines in 2012. The study utilized the descriptive method of research and employed survey research to gather data. The findings of this study served as basis in developing a handbook on solid waste management.
Research findings showed that the waste generators do not practice waste segregation. Dumping of wastes in the streets, rivers and open drainage are often practiced. The respondents do not also practice recycling of wastes because of the lack of facilities and lack of support from the local government units. Thus, this study indicates that the local government units do not comply with the implementing rules and regulations of the RA 9003. Lack of financial resources, lack of authority to make financial and administrative decisions, no proper institutional set-up for solid waste management, the difficulty of locating and/or acquiring landfill site, and the poor public cooperation were among the factors that influence the non-compliance of the local government units with the RA 9003.
Thus, massive educational campaign on appropriate and effective solid waste management practices should be conducted in the residential, institutional, industrial, hospitals and commercial establishments to promote public awareness. The local government units should formulate a long-term and comprehensive solid waste management programs that would encourage and motivate the public to encourage their cooperation and participation. The local government units should likewise reach out and build partnership with non-government organizations, private sectors and civic organizations to mobilize resources.

Research Methodology
A study was conducted to assess the solid waste management program in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. The study used the descriptive research method and employed survey in determining the current solid waste management practices and extent of compliance with RA 9003. 1 set of questionnaire were used as tool in data gathering from the waste implementers of RA 9003.
The study covered the responses of 100 waste implementers, which were classified as students of Iloilo Doctors’ College. Respondents from the residential areas were chosen using the multi-stage sampling. Random sampling was used to determine one sample barangay for each of the four year levels of the Information Technology Students namely: southern, northern, central and eastern areas. The respondent-implementers, on the other hand, included the officials of the barangays where respondent-waste generators are also residing. The city officials also serve `as respondents, being the persons responsible in the implementation of RA 9003.

Results and Discussion
Solid Waste Management Practices of the Waste Generators
The proper solid waste segregation includes using separate containers for biodegradable, non-biodegradable, domestic hazardous and bulky wastes with markings to distinguish the type of wastes inside, and segregating for re-use, recycling and composting. These however, are not being practiced in Barangays Sum-ag and 19 and seldom observed in Barangays Estefania and 10 (Table 1). Proper collection and transport were not practiced in the four barangays. The LGUs in the barangay level were not responsible in the collection of the biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and reusable wastes. Proper waste disposal was seldom practiced in the four barangays. Solid wastes were usually dumped in the creeks, canals, open spaces, along the sidewalks and deposited in the Felisa Open Dumpsite. Incineration was always practiced. Waste recycling was not practiced in Barangay 19 and seldom practiced in the other three barangays due to lack of recycling facilities, LGUs were not giving much attention to recycling industry as well as public were not encouraged to use recycled materials.

Table 1.
Solid waste management practices of the respondent-waste generators in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Respondents(Students of IDC) | Average Weighted Mean | Verbal Description | Proper waste segregation | 1st Year | | | 2nd Year | | | 3rd Year | | | 4th Year | | | Proper Waste Collection and Transport | 1st Year | | | 2nd Year | | | 3rd Year | | | 4th Year | | | Proper Waste Disposal | 1st Year | | | 2nd Year | | | 3rd Year | | | 4th Year | | | Waste Recycling | 1st Year | | | 2nd Year | | | 3rd Year | | | 4th Year | | | AP – Always Practiced; SP – Seldom Practiced; NP – Not Practiced |

Table 2 shows the extent of the compliance of the implementers with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Barangays 10, Sum-ag including the city government unsatisfactorily complied and Barangay 19 did not comply with RA 9003, specifically on segregation of wastes. Residents are provided with designated area and containers with proper markings as “compostable”, “recyclable”, “non-recyclable”, “non-recyclable, or “special wastes” in RA 9003,

Table 2.
Compliance of the respondents-implementers on the waste segregation regulations in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. Respondents(Students of IDC) | Average Weighted Mean | Verbal Description | 1st Year | | | 2nd Year | | | 3rd Year | | | 4th Year | | | USC – Unsatisfactorily Complied; NC – Not Complied; SC – Satisfactorily Complied |

In terms of waste collection and transport, (e.g. separate collection schedules and separate trucks or haulers with appropriate compartments with cover to facilitate efficient storing of sorted wastes are used), the vehicles that are being used considered the road, size, condition and capacity. Collection is done in a manner which prevents damage to the container and spillage or scattering within the collection vicinity. All collectors and other personnel are equipped with personal protective equipment to protect them from hazards of handling wastes with proper trainings to ensure that solid wastes are properly handled. The transfer stations are designed and operated for efficient waste handling capacity. However, all of the respondent-barangays did not comply with the waste disposal using controlled dumpsite with adequate soil cover or sanitary landfill for non-biodegradable and non-recyclable wastes. The disposal area that is being maintained by the city government is an open dumpsite.
Table 3.
Compliance of the respondent-implementers in the waste collection and transport regulations in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. Respondents(Students of IDC) | Average Weighted Mean | Verbal Description | 1st Year | | | 2nd Year | | | 3rd Year | | | 4th Year | | |

Table 4.
Compliance of the respondent-implementers on the waste disposal regulations in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. Respondents(Students of IDC) | Average Weighted Mean | Verbal Description | 1st Year | | | 2nd Year | | | 3rd Year | | | 4th Year | | |

As regards the waste recycling, the compliance ranged from non-compliance to unsatisfactorily compliance. No Material Recovery Facility was established in the barangays covered by the study.
Market opportunity for recycled products was given less emphasis.
Table 5.
Compliance of the respondent-implementers on water recycling regulations in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. Respondents(Barangay & City Officials) | Average Weighted Mean | Verbal Description | 1st Year | | | 2nd Year | | | 3rd Year | | | 4th Year | | |

Conclusion and Recommendation
The waste generators adopted poor solid waste management practices in terms of waste segregation, collection and transport, waste disposal and recycling due to lack of awareness on proper and effective ways of managing wastes. The LGUs face a number of problems which hamper the adoption and/or compliance with the RA 9003 Act. In view of these, the following recommendations are hereby proposed:

References

Newspapers

Arias, Prescila, Most Efficient Means of Waste Management, Manila Bulletin, April 20, 1998
Cabreza, Vincent Plastics Helps Mold New Recyling Trade in RP, The Philippine Daily
Inquirer, July 6, 2006
Ng, Jocelyn H What to Do with “Basura”?, The Philippine Star, June 16, 2005
Papa, Joey C. and Papa, Ana V Landfills are Unnecessary if We Recycle, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, December 26, 2004
Soliven, Preciosa S. Non-Biodegradable, The Philippine Star, July 7, 2005
Yap, DJ E-waste Problem Looms, The Philippine Inquirer, September 29, 2005

Government Issuances

RA 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations
RA 7160, the Local Government Code
PD 1152, the Philippine Environmental Code
RA 6969, Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act
PD 984, the Pollution Control Law
PD 1586, the Environmental Impact Assessment System Law
RA 8749, the Clean Air Act

Internet

Environmental Management, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental Management Ogawa, Hisashi, Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries, http://www.gdrc.org/uem/waste/swm-fogawa1.htm Orr, David W., The Challenges of Sustainability, http://www.raticalorg/co-globalize/4Cofs.htm Solid Waste Management, The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), http://www.un.org/documents/ecosoc/cn17/1994background/ecn171994-bpch21.htm Solid Waste Management, http://www.lcp.org.ph/Environment%20Unit/A1%20Solid%20Waste%20Management.htm Solid Waste Association of the Philippines SWAPP, http://www.lcp.org.ph/Environment%20Unit/A-1%20Solid%20Waste%20Management.htm
Stokeo, Jim and Teague, Elizabeth, Integrated Solid Waste Management for Rural Areas, 2002, http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/docs/swmgmt.pdf Triangle’s Best Solid Waste Management Practices http://www.p2pays.org/ref/26/25967.pdf Zurbrügg, Christian, Urban Solid Waste Management in Low-Income Countries of Asia, How to Cope with the Garbage Crisis, http://www.eawag.ch/organisation/abteilungen/sandec/publikationen/publications_swm/downloads_swm/USWM-Asia.pdf QUESTIONNAIRE Questions | Always Practiced | Seldom Practiced | Not Practiced | 1. Do you always segregate your garbage at your home? | | | | 2. Proper Waste Collection and Transport | | | | 3. Proper Waste Disposal | | | | 4. Do you always recycle your garbage? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

References: Newspapers Arias, Prescila, Most Efficient Means of Waste Management, Manila Bulletin, April 20, 1998 Cabreza, Vincent Plastics Helps Mold New Recyling Trade in RP, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 6, 2006 Ng, Jocelyn H What to Do with “Basura”?, The Philippine Star, June 16, 2005 Papa, Joey C Soliven, Preciosa S. Non-Biodegradable, The Philippine Star, July 7, 2005 Yap, DJ E-waste Problem Looms, The Philippine Inquirer, September 29, 2005 Stokeo, Jim and Teague, Elizabeth, Integrated Solid Waste Management for Rural Areas, 2002, http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/docs/swmgmt.pdf