SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES OF SELECTED SCHOOLS IN MANGAGOY,

BISLIG CITY

Denise Ross A. Pascua

Matthew Gabriel B. Silvosa

 Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Rationale

Solid waste means any garbage, refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water

supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded materials including

solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material, resulting from industrial, commercial,

mining and agricultural operations, and from community activities, but does not include solid or

dissolved materials in domestic sewage, or solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows

or industrial discharges (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 2018).

Solid waste can be defined as the useless and unwanted products in the solid state derived from

the activities of and discarded by society. It was produced either by - product of production

processes or arise from the domestic or commercial sector when objects or materials are

discarded after use (SmartRanger, 2018). It was categorized in three ways. According to its

origin either domestic, industrial, commercial, construction or institutional. According to its

contents either organic material, glass, metal, plastic paper etc. Lastly, according to its hazard

potential either toxic, non-toxin, flammable, radioactive, infectious etc. (India Water Portal,

2018).

Around the world, waste generation rates have risen. In 2012, the worlds’ cities generated

1.3 billion tonnes of solid waste per year, amounting to a footprint of 1.2 kilograms per person

per day. With rapid population growth and urbanization, municipal waste generation was

expected to rise to 2.2 billion tonnes by 2025. Managing the waste properly was essential for

building sustainable and livable cities, but it remains a challenge for many developing countries

and cities. Effective waste management was expensive, often comprising 20%–50% of municipal
budgets. Operating this essential municipal service required integrated systems that are efficient,

sustainable, and socially supported (The Wold Bank, 2018). The spread of unmanaged waste and

rubbish was a key detriment to the environment. Waste that was not dealt with effectively, and

left to rot in big piles in the open, can lead to air and water pollution which was harmful for the

environment and any living organisms that have to deal with the repercussions of the pollution.

Not only these, but when a natural area was the victim of widespread littering and rubbish

dumping, the area ceased to sustain its natural beauty. We have all bared witness to the

destruction of what would have been a beautiful natural landscape by the dumping of waste. By

having an effective waste management plan, which either disposes of the waste properly or

recycles it efficiently, you did the environment a huge favour in a time when we needed it most.

As humans, we created far more waste than any other living organism on the planet, and we are

also susceptible to its backlash if we don’t deal with it properly. If waste and rubbish that has not

been properly disposed of or recycled becomes too prominent it began to cause air and water

pollution, thus posing a great threat of bugs and virus to people worldwide. Waterborne diseases

such as gastro and cholera can form when an area of water was contaminated with waste. Having

an effective waste management plan greatly reduced the risk of the spread of disease. These are

the two greatest reasons why we should be more conscience of proper waste management: the

environment and the health of humans and other living organisms, and it was time we acted on it

with far greater efficiency than ever before (Toxfree, 2018).

According to the Senate Economic Planning Office, 2017, open dumping remained the

general practice of waste disposal in the country as controlled dumpsites and sanitary landfills

are very limited (National Solid Waste Management Commission).

 There were common types of waste generated in schools: paper, plastics, cans, food

waste (meals and fruits left-overs), electronic waste from school administration, and grass

cuttings from school grounds (Environmental Management Agency, 2018). There were also

ways on how to dispose solid waste such as preventing or reducing waste generation, recycling,

incineration, composting, and sanitary landfill (Compactor Management Company, 2018).

Furthermore, concluded by Dr Loyce Onyali (2015), there should be formed student

vanguardists monitored and supervised the observance of rules and regulations on sanitation in

schools within the hostels and different faculties; The school management should package

seminars and workshops enlightened and changed the psyche of students towards proper method

of waste disposal; Government enhanced the provision of necessary equipment for wastes

disposal and enforced the process of waste recycling so that schools were environmentally

friendly for requisite teaching and learning outcome.

Concluded by Licy & Vivek, giving social duty awareness along with waste management

awareness improved the practice of waste management. Awareness program of waste

management was greatly needed for parents also. This can be given in the schools during parent

teacher meetings or in community based programs. For this purpose, education departments of

the states/ country can implement environmental education programs to the teachers at all levels

of education.

Solid waste management was a major challenge in the Philippines. One of the most

daunting issues faced the world was the mounted waste problem, which impaired public health,

polluted the environment and threatened to drown some poor countries in toxicity. More than

half the world’s population did not have access to regular trash collection, a grim statistic given

the amount of garbage produced globally.

 It was in this context that this study was purposely undertaken in order to collect data

and to find out if there was a proper waste management from the selected schools in Mangagoy,

Bislig City. This was conducted to the Grade 12 Senior High School Students of De La Salle

John Bosco College and St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan College S.Y. 2018-2019.
Review of Related Literature

This study has close relationships with previous studies that dealt on proper waste

management practices.

Solid waste was an unavoidable by-product of human activities. Solid waste were

regarded as any reject material resulting from domestic activity and industrial operations for

which there was no economic demand and thus must be disposed (Sridhar, 1998). Economic

development, urbanization, and improved living standards in cities increased the quantity and

complexity of generated municipal solid waste. If accumulated, municipal solid waste lead to

degraded urban environment, stressed natural resources, and lead to health issues (Central

Pollution Control Board [CPCB], 2000).

According to United Nations Center for Human Settlements, 2001, cities worldwide

faced a higher level of pollution to multiple environmental media. The situation in less-

developed countries was more acute, partly caused by inadequate provision of basic services like

sanitation facilities, transport infrastructure, and waste collection.

In Nigeria, the rate of generation of solid wastes increased by the day with increased in

urban populations. An estimated 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of municipal solid waste was

generated per capita per year in Nigeria (Olafusi, 2004). The majority of this was collected and

dumped on the surface of the ground, and was mostly transferred from one location to the other

rather than being properly disposed of, a practice known to pose serious health hazards to the

community (Nigerian Environmental Action Study Team, 1989). Similarly, Mabogunje (1980)

and Filani (1987) documented how severe unsanitary conditions characterized urban centers.

Inadequate provisions existed for dealing with municipal solid waste, which lead to air and water

pollution.
 Wahab (2003), every school generates waste arised from routine activities such as

classwork, sweeping, serving of food, and bush cutting. The common types of solid wastes found

in various schools in less-developed countries’ communities include paper, grass, nylon (in the

manufacture of pure water bags and biscuits, lollypops, ice cream, and sweet or candy wrappers),

sugar cane, maize or corn cobs, and groundnut shells. Other forms of wastes may also be found

on school premises, and these may not have even been generated directly by pupils and teachers.

Economic development, urbanization, improved living standards in cities, and increase in

enrolments of schoolchildren due to government policies in less-developed countries’ increased

the quantity and complexity of generated solid waste in schools. If accumulated, this class of

municipal solid waste lead to degraded urban environment, stressed on limited natural resources,

and lead to various health issues (Central Pollution Control Board, CPCB, 2000). Globally, most

public schools were facing a high level of pollution. The situation in less-developed countries

such as Nigeria was more acute, partly because of the lack of adequate solid waste disposal

facilities (Fajehisan, 1998).

The problems associated with the disposal of wastes in public places included schools are

numerous and they included littering of food remains and other discarded materials. This lead to

the breeding of rats and other vectors of public health importance, i.e., biological agents of

exposure (Sridhar & Ojediran, 1983). Rats also destroyed school materials such as paper and

valuable documents. The U. S Public Health Service, for example, published results tracing the

relationship of 22 human diseases to improper solid waste management (Mabogunje, 1968). In

Nigeria, sanitation including proper municipal solid waste management was commonly thought

of as one of the indicators of available primary health care services in the country.
 After the home, schools constitute the next most important place of learning and where

children spend most of their time, in particular indoors for study and outdoors while at play.

Therefore, the purpose of our study was to assess knowledge and awareness of the problems

associated with municipal solid waste management in selected secondary schools in Ibadan, a

rapidly growing city in southwestern Nigeria, to help plan future, appropriate, and remedial

measures.

Chandra et al (2009) made a detailed investigation 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 concerned to solid waste

management 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 municipal

solid waste. This study revealed that the present system of municipal solid waste management in

Mysore City was not satisfactory based on Municipal Solid Waste Management & Handling

Rules, 2000.

Another case study across North America conducted by Whoilistic Environmental

Consulting (WEC, 2007), yard and food waste made up over a quarter of all the ordinary garbage

we threw away. That's 25% by weight. In the U.S., that 25% was almost equally divided between

yard waste (32.6 million tons, or 12.8% of all municipal solid waste) 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 and towels 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 threw away
was recovered and composted, as was 54.5% of the paper and cardboard. Only 2.6% of food

waste reached a compost heap.

As cited from Inquirer (cited by Saley, 2012), the Municipal Council enacted an

ordinance established solid waste management also known as “Perkash Fashura Ordinance Na

Isadanga.”The ordinance prohibited dumping of garbage anywhere other than those recognized

and established garbage facilities; dumping of unclean and unsegregated waste at the redemption

center/facility; discharge 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 required residents to practice segregation of wastes

at source. Reusable solid wastes such as bottles, plastics, cellophanes and papers were brought to

the barangay material recovery facility duly segregated or directly to the agent-buyers. Non-

recyclable materials and special solid wastes were 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 was responsible for collected

reusable, recyclable and non-biodegradable waste materials from the material recovery facilities;

and transported them to the recycling centers and or to the municipal material recovery facilities.

Collection of segregated solid wastes is scheduled per barangay.

Furthermore, Paz B. Reyes et al (2013) stated in their study that, solid waste

management, historically did not get any specific attention in policy and legislation except as

part of the larger domain of environmental issues on utilization, protection and conservation,

management of natural resources and the regulation of behaviour causing negative impact on the

environment (Rebullida, 2000). It was provided however in Article 11 of the Philippine

Constitution, that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. Thus, the Philippine

government take into consideration the promulgation of various Presidential Decrees and the

enactment of several Republic Acts which took direct action on solid waste management. The

most recent of which is R.A. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

which served as the legal framework for the country’s systematic, comprehensive and ecological

solid waste management program that ensured protection of public health and the environment. It

empowered local government units to actively pursue their own solid waste management systems

through preparation of a 10-year solid waste management plans; creation of a Solid Waste

Management Board responsible for the preparation and implementation of a plan for the safe and

sanitary management of solid waste; mandatory segregation of waste; implementation of

recycling programs; setting up a Material Recovery Facility; prohibition of open dumpsites as

final disposal facility; promoting the establishment of multipurpose environmental cooperatives

and associations responsible for undertaking solid waste management activities or projects;

provision of monetary and other rewards and incentives to entities that have undertaken

outstanding and innovative solid waste management programs; encouragement of LGUs to

imposed fees sufficient to pay the cost of prepared and implemented solid waste management

plans; creation of a local solid waste management funded from donations, collection of fines and

fees, and allocation from the development fund; and definition of prohibited acts, penalties, suits

and other legal actions concerning R.A. 9003. The 10-year solid waste management plan of an

LGU should put emphasis on implemented feasible and environmentally sound techniques of

waste minimization such as re-use, recycling, and composting programs. It identified the amount

of landfill and transformation capacity needed for solid waste that cannot be re-used, recycled or

composted. The 10-year solid waste management plan complied with R.A. 9003 which mandated
that 25 percent of all solid waste must be diverted from disposal facilities within a period of five

years from the time R.A. 9003 took effect.

PhilCanada Local Government Support Program (2003), stated that, in order to develop a

comprehensive provincial SWM plan which will took off from the municipal/city solid waste

management plans, a provincial Solid Waste Management Board must be created. LGUs

evaluated the roles of the public and private sectors in providing collection services that

conformed with the minimum standards and requirements for collection of solid waste. Such

standards that must be met were used of protective equipment by collectors, non-spillage of

waste within collection vicinity, separated collection schedules for specific types of waste,

separated trucks/haulers or compartmentalized collection vehicles. Recycling programs

implemented with the support of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of

Agriculture (D.A.), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). It was the

DTI that was responsible for preparing an inventory of existing markets for processed and

purchased of recyclable materials and implemented a coding system for packaged materials and

products facilitated waste recycling and re-use. It was the responsibility of the D.A. to publish an

inventory of existing markets and demand for compost. Material Recovery Facilities (M.R.F.)

put up in every barangay or cluster of barangays received mixed waste for final sorting,

segregation, composting, and recycling before non-recyclable wastes are transferred to a storage

or disposal facility. Existed open dumpsites were converted into controlled dumpsites within

three years from the effectivity date of the law. Sanitary landfills were developed and operated as

final disposal sites in conformance with the guidelines and criteria provided by the law for the

location and establishment of sanitary landfills. Tax credit and duty exemption to individuals and

private organizations who have undertaken outstanding and innovative solid waste management
programs were granted. LGUs adopted specific revenue-generating measures which ensured the

viability of their plans. Allocation from the development fund were used for activities that

enhanced the solid waste management programs such as research, information, education and

communications, and capability building.

According to Wilson (2015), thirty years ago, waste management was seen as essentially

a technical discipline. However, throughout his career Professor David C Wilson has focused not

only on the technical, but also on the ‘softer’ aspects of institutional strengthening, capacity

building including training, regulatory control systems, cost recovery and private sector

participation as key aspects of building on existing waste management systems.

Solid waste management has to do with the handling of solid refuse, from the point of

generation through storage, collection, transportation, recovery and treatment processes to

disposal. The poor management of these wastes posed a great danger not only in polluting the

environment but to human well-being as well. From the findings of this study, 15.6 kg of waste

was generated per household per week in the case study area. With an average of 3 persons per

household, the waste generation translated into 0.74kg/capita/day, which was higher than the

0.71kg/capita/day generated in Ibadan, Oyo State and the general average of 0.58kg/capita/day in

other Nigerian cities (Babayemi and Dauda, 2009). 19.2% of respondents alluded to an

evacuation pattern of once a week in their neighbourhoods; 36.2% of respondents attested to

twice a week; 15.5% indicated once a month whilst 29.1% attested to once in three month

evacuation by service providers. In spite of the disparity of collection, the results confirmed the

presence of waste collection services in the case study area. However, the disparity in frequency

of waste evacuation may not be unconnected to the land use orientation in the study area, where

some of the carved out units were planned and easily accessible to service providers, while other
units were unplanned and less accessible. A conspicuous result of infrequent waste collection

was evident in the heaps of refuse and garbage commonly found on some of the streets of the

study area, most especially the unplanned neighbourhoods. The study also revealed the lack of

Integrated Solid Waste Management System evident by the 100% response to non-sorting of

wastes generated from households. This agreed with the findings of Otitoju (2014) that the solid

wastes collected from the streets of Nigerian urban centres are dumped in the open dumps

without due recourse to sorting at source of waste generation and disposal. From the foregoing it

was obvious that the waste management challenge in Nigeria were attributed to the wrong

attitude of the public, poor planning as a result of lack of will to do the right thing and lack of

legal framework and enforcement of existing regulations as aptly elucidated by previous

researches by Ogwueleka, 2009; Abila and Kantola,

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 segregated their wastes

into PET bottles, glass bottles, and other waste (mixed wastes). No respondents performed

composting. It is worth noting, however, that burning of waste was not done by the respondents.

The households relied on garbage collection by the government. Collection was done twice

daily, except Sundays, and household members brought their garbage when the garbage truck
arrived. However, there were those who dumped 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

looked for recyclable items in the dumped garbage. All of them said that it was their only source

of income, which was generally not enough for their meals. Most of the respondents said that

garbage collection and disposal was 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, was not fully implemented in Metro Manila (Bernardo, 2008).

Scope and Limitation

This study covered the solid waste disposal practices of selected schools in Mangagoy,

Bislig City. It specifically focused about the disposal practices, the factors that hinder these

practices and the implementation strategies of the selected schools. This was to be responded by

the Grade 12 Senior High School Students from De La Salle John Bosco College and St. Vincent

de Paul Diocesan College.

This study utilized a researcher-completed instrumentation. The instrument that was used

was rating scales which were used to measure the levels of agreement and disagreement of the

respondents. The respondents were offered a choice of five pre-coded responses with neutral

point being neither agree nor disagree. It used simple frequency distribution and stratified

sampling method for gathering all of the data. It happened in SY 2018-2019.