A RESEARCH PAPER IN DETERMINING THE AWARENESS ON WASTE

SEGREGATION AMONG GRADE 7 DARWIN IN

CLARIN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Is presented to Mineheart G. Langemark

of Clarin National High School

Clarin, Misamis Occidental

Submitted by

Alexandra B. Bodiongan
Rodel Victor N. Barroquillo
Chariz T. Castillo
Christian Howard D. Biliran
Matt Andrei K. Llorong`
Maverick B. Abella
Yumi Yvonne F. Aranas

March 22, 2019

AWARENESS ON WASTE SEGREGATION AMONG GRADE 7 DARWIN IN CLARIN

NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Trashcans are full of garbage, mixed together, not properly segregated, and the students

continue throwing their trash inside their school campus. Garbage pollution arises when the

waste collected in dumping sites keeps rotting, spreading odor, and cause air pollution in the

surrounding which also creates problems in the administrative level. (Bharat, 2007) Waste

problem in school needs to be solved because it may cause illness to the students and its bad

smell that is not good for people around. (Castillo, 2018)

Natural part of life cycle, waste occurs when any organism returns substances to the

environment. Living things take in raw materials and excrete wastes that are recycled by other

living organisms. However, humans produce additional flow of materials residues that would

overload the capacity of natural recycling process, so these wastes must be managed in order to

reduce their effect in our environment. (Washington, 2015) According to a report published in

Natural Journal ( Assa Doron and Robin Jeffrey of Harvard University, 2018), the problem of

garbage or solid waste is assuming terrible proportion and become a serious problem in the

world today. Rivers too are victims of various types of pollution generated by industrial and

household waste (Swacch, 2007).

Nowadays, we are suffering from environmental problems, such as global warming, flash

floods and etc. One of the causes of these problems is the misbehavior of the people towards

waste management. Some people are reckless in throwing their garbage, and they do not think of
the possible results of their actions on the environmental as well as on health. (Dee Mohammed,

2016) According to an article published in Nature Journal (Daniel Hoornweg, 2018), our future

could look a lot like Blade runner by the year 2049. Not in terms of artificial human life but in

terms of our trash production.

Around the world, waste generation rates are rising. In 2016, the world’s cities generated

2.01 billion tons of solid waste, amounting to a footprint of 0.74 kilograms per person a day.

With rapid population growth and urbanization, annual waste generation is expected to increase

by 70% from 2016 levels to 3.40 billion tons in 2025. (Dominic Chavez, 2017) According to A

World Bank report projects, the amount of solid waste we generated on earth will double by the

year 2025. If current trends continue, we are likely to go from 3.6 million tons to 6 million tons

per day by that point. ( Daniel Hoornweg, 2018)

Despite the strong environmental activism among Filipinos, the Philippines still suffers

from trash problem. Local Government Units are struggling to implement the “Ecological sold

Waste Management” Act of 2000 or Republic Act (RA) 9003 which signed into law in 2001.

(Vernise,2018) The state of Manila Bay is unfortunate but familiar sight. Trash strewn all over

Roxas Boulevard due to the Southwest monsoon winds ( Hanging Habagat) blowing them over

from Manila Bay. The bay itself is covered in trash after the storm. This happens annually, and

nobody bats an eyelash when it does. Trash is part of life in the city, especially Metro Manila.

(Tantuco, September 2018) Currently about 35,000 tons of municipal solid waste are generated

by the Philippines daily, and more than 8,600 tons per day in Metro Manila. (Aldrin, 2018) A

sizeable proportion of the refuse is openly burned, further worsening the quality of the city’s

already heavily air polluted. ( Plaza,2018)

 Many life-threatening diseases because of waste problem are the consequences of

contaminated water. Few of the most common diseases are Hepatitis, Cholera, Dysentery, and

Typhoid. Burgeoning heaps of garbage provides a breeding ground for many kinds of insects.

These insects act as a vector for many deadly diseases such as Malaria and Dengue. (Quora,

2005) According to Wisconsin Department of Health Services in 2017, when household garbage

and plastics are burned, they release particulate matter which are solid compounds suspended in

air. Being exposed to particulate matter increases heart disease, asthma, emphysema, and

respiratory disease incident rates. ( Leonard, 2017)

There are some possible solutions that can help to prevent disease cause improper waste

management. We must recycle wastes to stop using fossils. (Donovan, 2004) Waste

sustainability drive with people’s health and the conservation of resources being the

responsibility of every government. (D. Mohammed, March 2016) Waste disposal has developed

into an industry larger than just removing waste. Organic waste is separated from inorganaste

and non-recyclable waste. (Leonard, 2017)

Furthermore, the group will do the best to seek more answers on what are the causes of

improper waste management, the advantages of proper waste disposal, and the effects to the

surroundings if improper waste management will not be solved. Sooner or later, we will have to

recognize that the earth has a right too, live without pollution. What mankind must know is that

human beings cannot live without earth, but the earth can live without humans. (Evo Morales,

2016)
Review of Related Literature

Solid waste was already a problem long before water and air pollution issues attached

public attention. Historically, the problem associated with solid waste can be dated prehistoric

days. (Ramesha Chandrappa, 2013) The production of waste is an inherent part of living in an

industrialized society. The amount of waste produced by society is on the rise, largely due to the

growth of populations in the urban areas. (Christina Hall, 2017)

In recent years, modern society has become more responsible when it comes to waste

management. (Leon Hayes, 2016) We are all attribute in the term ‘waste’ in a global manne to a

number of wastes. All kinds of wastes, right from the municipal waste agricultural waste to

hazardous residues and special waste come under one umbrella. Though all of them are certainly

waste products, their management practices are not the same. (Chitra Reddy, 2016)

According to Vella Atienza (2011:1-2), one of the fastest developing countries with

equally increasing rate of population and urbanization, impacting significantly on its waste

segregation in Africa. The increase in the solid waste generation per capita in Africa has not been

accompanied by a commensurate growth in the capacity and funding to manage it. (The Official

Journal of the Belgian Public Health Association, 2016, 74:75) This condition has created both

environmental and health problems. (Guzman and Reyes, 2003)

The Philippine Government has tried to address problem of waste management by

enacting various policies. (Tilahun Nigatu Harego, 2016) The most notable policy came with the

implementation of the country is the Republic Act (9003), also known as the Ecological Solid

Waste Management Act of 2000 which promoting 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle).

(Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR, 2001)

 The resulting framework identifies group of people at a heightened risk of exposure and

the potential health consequences. Using the iceberg metaphor, the framework illustrates the

pathways and potential burden of health related to solid waste that is hidden rapidly unfolding

with our inaction. The existing evidence of the linkage between poor solid waste management

and adverse health outcomes calls action by all stakeholders in understanding, prioritizing, and

addressing the issue of solid waste in our midst to ensure that our environment and health are

preserved. A resulting framework developed in this study presents clearer picture of linkages

between poor solid waste management and could guide research policy and action. (Blessing

Mberu, 2016:1-2)

They say that a green revolution, the best solution, to arrest pollution. The person who

dumps a garbage into your mind will do you considerably more harm that the person who dumps

garbage on your floor, because each load of mind garbage negatively impacts your possibilities

and lowers your expectation. (Brown, 2010)

Statement of the Problem

This study attempted to seek answers to the following questions: (a) What are the causes

of improper waste disposal? (b) What are the advantages of proper waste disposal? (c) What are

the effects of waste problem in the surroundings?

Scope and Limitation

This study mainly focused on the causes of improper waste disposal, the advantages of

proper waste disposal and also the effects to the surroundings if waste problem cannot be solved.

Thus, it will not further investigate about any solutions of improper waste management.

Significance of the Study

The results of this study would be of great benefit to the following:

Students. They will know the possible effects if they will keep in throwing waste. They

will be informed in what to do on their garbage in order to prevent illness and can

share their learning to the people around them.

Teachers. The teachers could guide their students on how to keep the surroundings clean and

healthy . They could teach them the importance of having a clean and healthy

surroundings.

Government. The awareness of waste problem in the community and later the government can

provide possible solutions to the problem.

 Chapter 2

Methodology

This chapter presents the method used in this study, research locale, and participants of

the study, data gathering, research instrument, and statistical tool.

Research Design

A descriptive method was used to gather information about the waste problem inside the

campus of Clarin National High School. The researcher gathered information on the possible

causes of improper waste disposal through observation and survey questionnaire. They will be

given a questionnaire that will test about the student awareness about proper waste management.

Lastly, they will try to describe on what are the knowledge of the students about waste

management and its effects to the surrounding. The purpose of employing this method is to

gather the data and information needed for the study.

Research Locale

The study was conducted at Clarin National High School, Pob. 3, Clarin, Misamis

Occidental. The school has 5 curriculums, the Science Technology Engineering Arts and

Mathematics, Special Program in the Arts, Special Program in Journalism, Technical Vocational

and Livelihood Education and the Regular Curriculum for Junior High School. There were 707

students under Grade 7 level. The said level has 13 sections where 2 of them are under STEAM

Curriculum, 1 SPA Curriculum, 1 TECHVOC Curriculum and the rest are under Regular

Curriculum.
Participants of the Study

The participants involved in this study were Grade 7 students in all curriculums. The

researchers had chosen the participants randomly using the Slovin formula. They decided to use

the Slovin formula in order to find the sample size of the 707 total populations of Grade 7

students. Respondents were randomly selected after getting the sample size.

Table 1 Group 3 Grade 7 Darwin

Name Age Address

Rodel Victor N. Barroquillo 13 Purok 2, Brgy. Taguima, Tudela, Mis. Occ.

Alexandra B. Bodiongan 13 Purok Rosal, Brgy. Poblacion, Sinacaban, Mis. Occ.

Chariz T. Castillo 13 Purok 5, Poblacion 3, Clarin, Mis. Occ.

Yumi Yvonne F. Aranas 12 Purok 7, Brgy. Gango, Ozamiz City, Mis. Occ.

Christian Howard D. Biliran 13 Purok 1, Brgy. Mialen, Clarin, Mis. Occ.

Matt Andrei K. Llorong 13 Purok 1, Brgy. Centro Napu, Tudela, Mis. Occ.

Maverick B. Abella 12 Purok 7, Poblacion 2, Clarin, Mis. Occ.

Table 1 shows the information of the member in Group 3 who were conducting the study.

Table 2 shows the participants of the study

Section No. of Students Curriculum
Darwin 20 STEAM
Aristotle 20 STEAM
Mozart 20 SPA
Courteous 20 SPJ
La Presa 20 TVL
Charity 20 Regular
Hope 20 Regular
Love 20 Regular
Humble 20 Regular
Thrifty 20 Regular
Kind 20 Regular
Steadfast 20 Regular
Prudent 15 Regular
Table 2 shows the sections of the respondents and their curriculum and the number of students
participated in the survey.
Data Gathering

The supposed participants were given a questionnaire consists of items about proper

waste management. They need to choose the best answer that will reflect their views about waste

management. Their chosen answers were counted as 1 tally in each number. In that way the

researchers can identify clearly their views on improper waste disposal.

Research Instrument

The questionnaire has 20 questions, choices are yes, no, and maybe. Questions were

related to proper waste management. These were distributed to Grade 7 students randomly,

where results were analyzed and interpreted after.

Table 3 shows the survey questionnaire.

Survey Questionnaire

Gender:____________ Age: _____

Year & Section: ________________

Direction: Encircle the letter of your final answer.

Note: There is no right or wrong in your answer.

1. Do you know about waste disposal?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

2. Do you ever notice waste in the road, land, or in public area?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

3. Do you participate in terms of proper waste disposal?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

4. Do you ever hear of health problems due to solid waste?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

5. Do you throw your trash in the proper trash bins according to their kinds which are non -biodegradable,
 biodegradable, and recyclable materials?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

6. Are you satisfied that there are/is trashcan/s in your classroom?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

7. Does it affect the way you throw your trash?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

8. Did you ever participate on Awareness of Environmental Health?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

9. Have you ever been educated on proper waste disposal by your school?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

10. Do you think that mostly I n recess time waste started to be seen anywhere?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

11. Are there any public bins near your school?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

12. Do you think the waste disposal method is a problem in your school?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

13. Have you ever heard about the importance of recycling?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

14. Do you ever notice burning waste in your school?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

15. Have you ever heard of “Sustainable Development”?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

16. Do you think that it is the best way to reduce waste in your campus?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

17. Do you think Solid Waste Management has impact on sustainable development?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

18. Do you think that Solid Waste Management should be developed in Clarin National High School for

sustainable development?
 A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

19. Do you think most environmental issues in Clarin National High School could be minimized if Solid Waste

is managed properly?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

20. Do you agree that every single person has a responsibility to contribute to sustainable development in

Clarin National High School?

A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

Table 3 shows the 20 statements about waste segregation. The statements supply

information to the researchers on every respondent’s knowledge and principle about waste

problem. These statements provided data to the researchers on the possible reason why Clarin

National High School is facing garbage problem.

 Chapter 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Solid waste was a problem long before water and air pollution issues attached public

attention. In recent years, modern society has become more responsible when it comes to waste

management. Historically, the problem associated with solid waste can be dated prehistoric days.

Waste occurs when any organism returns substances to the environment. Living things

take in raw materials and excrete wastes that are recycled by other living organisms. However,

humans produce additional flow of materials residues that would overload the capacity of natural

recycling process, so these wastes must be managed in order to reduce their effect in our

environment. (Washington, 2015) Nowadays, we are suffering from environmental problems,

such as global warming, flash floods and etc. One of the causes of these problems is the

misbehavior of the people towards waste management. Some people are reckless in throwing

their garbage, and they do not think of the possible results of their actions on the environmental

as well as on health. (Dee Mohammed, 2016)

The Philippine Government has tried to address problem of waste management by

enacting various policies. (Tilahun Nigatu Harego, 2016) The researchers believe that waste

problem can be minimize by what Tilahun Nigatu Harego had stated. The most notable policy

came with the implementation of the country is the Republic Act (9003), also known as the

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which promoting 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and

Recycle). (Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR, 2001) These 3Rs can

help our society making less garbage. Reduce, means we must reuse and recycle our garbage to,

reduce it. Recycling means you can make something old into new and reuse is, instead of buying
new things you can use it again. Because they say that a green revolution, the best solution to

arrest pollution.

Figure 1 Results of the survey about waste problem conducted last February 28, 2019

180

160

140

120

100

80 Yes

60 No
Maybe
40

20

The group conducted a survey on possible knowledge of Grade 7 respondents about

garbage segregation. There were 707 Grade 7 students. In order to get the sample size, the

researchers used the Slovin formula. As a result, there were 255 Grade 7 students as the sample

size. These students were the ones who took the survey about waste problem. The graph above

shows the number of respondents who answered yes, no and maybe. The data were analyzed and

interpreted after.

Statement no. 1 shows the highest percent of respondents who answered yes that is 67%

is equivalent to 170 of the total sample size. Which mean students have knowledge in terms of
waste disposal, the lowest percent of respondents who answered yes is found in statement no. 12

that is 40% and is equivalent to 103 of the total sample size. Which they think improper waste

disposal is a problem in their school. Some students really don’t have the knowledge that

improper waste disposal is already a problem in their school.

In statement no. 12 shows the highest percent of respondents who answered no, that is

33% and is equivalent to 85 out of the 225 sample size. This means that students have lack of

knowledge about the improper waste disposal. The lowest percent of the respondents who

answered no, is found in statement no. 20 that is 5% and is equivalent to 13 out of the 255

sample size. Which they were ask if they agree that every single person has a responsibility to

contribute to sustainable development in Clarin National High School. This only means that this

students who answered no don’t have the knowledge that every single person has a responsibility

to contribute to sustainable development.

Statement no. 15 shows the highest percent of respondents who answered maybe, that is

29% and is equivalent to 74 of the total sample size. Which means students have not yet decided

that they heard about sustainable development. This further shows that some of them were

confused if they heard about sustainable development. The lowest percent of respondents who

answered maybe is found in statement no. 20 that is 8% and is equivalent to 20 out of the total

sample size. Which means that some of them were confused if every single person has a

responsibility to contribute to sustainable development.

Implications of the Study

Waste management is devoted to the presentation and discussion of information on solid

waste generation, characterization, minimization, collection, separation, treatment and disposal,

as well as manuscripts that address waste management policy, education, and economic and

environmental assessments. (U. Arena and M. Barlaz, 2018) Disposing of waste has huge

environmental impacts and can cause serious problems. Some waste will eventually rot, but not

all, and in the process it may smell, or generate methane gas, which is explosive and contributes

to the greenhouse effect. But in segregating our waste, there can be an order and a clean

environment.

After the analysis of data, the researchers find out the highest and the lowest percentage

of the respondents who answered yes, no, and maybe. The highest percentage who answered yes

is 67% of the sample size and this is all about statement number 1 in the survey questionnaire

which shows that most of the students were informed about garbage disposal. This means that

more than half of the respondents know what to do with their garbage, while the lowest

percentage who answered yes is 40% of the sample size. This is statement number 12 which

means that only few students think that waste disposal method is the problem in Clarin National

High School. The students are maybe is not aware that waste disposal method is a way of making

the environment clean and order.

The researchers also determine the highest percentage who answered no. 85% of the

sample size chose NO in statement no. 12. This statement means that the school has a problem in

disposing their waste. Though there are scheduled days of garbage collection but maybe those

days were not enough to maintain the cleanliness of the school. The lowest percentage who

answered NO is 16% of the sample size. Such statement can be interpreted by saying few of the

students do not agree that every single person has a responsibility to contribute in sustainable

development of Clarin National High School. Maybe the reason why the students do not know

about disposal method is because they don’t have so much knowledge about the possible
outcome if the students will follow the disposal method. Some of the advantages of proper waste

disposal are these

;can prevent soil contamination , air pollution, water pollution, it can also prevent harmful

diseases, and it can make our surroundings clean and pleasant in our eyes . Every single person

has a responsibility to contribute in sustainable development of one’s community and

environment.

During the analysis of the data gathered, the researchers discovered that there were

students who were not sure if they truly heard about Sustainable Development. 27% of the total

sample size answered maybe, stating that they were not sure if they had an idea about sustainable

health. Statement no. 20 got the lowest percentage (22%). The researchers believed that 22% of

the respondents didn’t believe that each of them has a responsibility in the contribution of a

sustainable development. There were students who didn’t throw their trash properly. They think

that they do not know about sustainable development and they were not responsible in the

contribution of such development. People were not well oriented about the awareness of proper

waste segregation and they are not willing to participate in making the environment clean and

free from contamination. Such action is not difficult to do so, this can be done by simply putting

one’s waste in the proper trash bins. Such problem can be solved by orienting the students on

that program. Let them know how to categorize and segregate their waste. Let them realize that

by doing such they can contribute a lot in maintaining a clean environment by having a self-

disciplined on throwing their trash properly.

Waste management is our responsibility for we benefit and suffer from it in radical ways.

Education and awareness across all communities, irrespective of their social, economic
condition, must be ever-present for as long as life inhabits this planet. Therefore the significance

of waste management can contribute global warming. Recent scientific studies of greenhouse

gases in the atmosphere that causes climate change. It can be implemented when the people will

be more responsible and discipline to their obligation when dumping waste. As part of the future

generation we must care for the environment and be more aware on what is happening on our

country.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, waste problem is one of the main problems that most of the countries are

facing right now. As what Assa Dorron and Robin Jeffrey said that solid waste is the problem

that is assuming terrible and become a serious problem in the world today. (Assa Doron and

Robin Jeffrey, 2018) This statement was supported by Daniel Hoornweg when he said that, “Our

future could look a lot like Blade runner by the year 2049. Not in terms of artificial human life

but in terms of our trash production.” (Daniel Hoornweg, 2018) Around the world, waste

generation rates are rising. This statement was supported by Dominic Chavez when he said that,

“In 2016, the world’s cities generated 2.01 billion tons of solid waste, amounting to a footprint of

0.74 kilograms per person a day. With rapid population growth and urbanization, annual waste

generation is expected to increase by 70% from 2016 levels to 3.40 billion tons in 2025.”

(Dominic Chavez, 2017) The researchers believed that it is just a lack of awareness in garbage

segregation why people keep on doing what is wrong in terms of garbage disposal.

There are possible solutions that can help to solve such problem. The researchers

believed that being aware on proper waste segregation can minimize waste problem. This

statement was supported by Leonard that waste disposal has developed into an industry larger
than just removing waste. Organic waste is separated from inorganic waste and non-recyclable

waste. (Leonard, 2017) Thus, improper waste segregation is one of the problems in all countries.

It is gathered by the researchers using the survey questionnaire and they found out that many of

the students did not think that it is their responsibility to contribute in sustainable development of

Clarin National High School. The students just throw their trash everywhere and they do not

know how to segregate their waste, if done so trash can be segregated properly. Sooner or later,

one can recognize that the earth has a right to live without pollution. What mankind must know

is that human beings cannot live without earth, but the earth can live without humans. (Evo

Morales, 2016)
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