DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY

NORTH LA UNION CAMPUS

Bacnotan, La Union

Tel. & Fax No. (72) 242-11-17

College of Graduate Studies

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE SELECTED BARANGAYS IN THE

MUNICIPALITY OF BACNOTAN, LA UNION

VIVIAN V. MANUEL

DON MARIANO MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY

NORTH LA UNION CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF GRADUATES STUDIES

SAPILANG, BACNOTAN LA UNION

MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY LIVELIHOOD AND EDUCATION

AUGUST 09,, 2021

 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Situation Analysis

“But our waste problem is not the fault only of producers. It is the fault of an

economy that is wasteful from top to bottom, a symbiosis of an unlimited greed at the top

and a lazy, passive, and self-indulgent consumptiveness at the bottom and all of us are

involved in it.” Wendell Berry.

Waste problem cannot put all the blame to the producers of products, for all are

involved in the waste problem. Some people are wasteful, some possess greediness and

some are lazy enough, that is why they have waste problem which everyone is faced with

every day. If only a stop on blaming others and start the responsibility within themselves,

then good future awaits everyone. The air they breathe, the land they lived and the water

they drink will be clean enough for the next generations to survive.

Solid Waste Management is the purposeful, systematic, control of the generation,

storage, collection, transportation, separation, processing, recycling, recovery, and final

disposal of solid waste. According to Nathanson (2018), solid waste management is the

process of collecting, treating, and disposing of solid material that is discarded because it

has serve its purpose or is no longer useful (Bacnotan Environmental Code, 2014).

The World Bank finances and advises a solid waste management project using a

diverse suite of products and services, including traditional loans, results-based financing,

development policy financing, and technical advisory. The said Bank financed waste
 management projects address the entire life cycle of waste - from generation to

collection and transportation, and finally treatment and disposal (World Bank, 2018).

On the other hand, the Philippines now is facing an increasingly severe situation

of Municipal Solid Waste processing management. According to the statement of the

World Bank, 25% of the solid waste in the country is generated in Manila major

metropolitan area. The reasons can be attributed to the booming of multiple consumption

forms including food packaging. The increasing uses of disposable have also worsened

this situation. Some of the packaging contains hazardous materials which can pose

danger to the surrounding environment, therefore, only a good and effective management

of those solid waste could help this country out of this large potential danger. Besides,

owing to the population boom and flourishing tourism, the consumption per capital is

now increasing plus the fast urbanization process (Beston, 2018).

Additionally, Beston (2018) stated that with the rapid development of the

economy and urbanization of the Philippines, more urban problems concerning Solid

Waste treatment and disposal have emerged and waited for solving. It is a challenge for

this country, but it is also an opportunity for them to grasp because solid waste treatment

and recycling is the trend of human development and the challenge is to find more values

from limited sources, even the waste .Despite the poor environmental condition adjacent

to disposal sites, informal settlers flocked these areas owing to perceived opportunities.

This is the case in most disposal sites since scavenging provides sustainable livelihood

among those who cannot secure employment in the formal urban market. The informal
sectors which included scavengers residing near the sites are key players in Solid Waste

Management Implementation. Likewise, under Section 32 of R.A 9003 also known as

“The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”, states that there shall be

established a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in every barangay or cluster of

barangays. The facility shall be established in a barangay-owned or leased land or any

suitable open space to be determined by the barangay through its Sanggunian. For this

purpose, the barangay or cluster of barangays shall allocate a certain parcel of land for the

MRF.

The Environmental Code of Bacnotan, La Union Ordinance No. 481 Article D

states that segregation of solid waste is mandatory. Segregation shall primarily be

conducted at the source to include household, institutional, industrial, commercial, and

agricultural sources. The duties and responsibilities of the municipal solid waste

management board develop the Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan that shall

ensure the implementation and management of solid waste, as well as integrate the

various solid waste management plans and strategies of the barangays in its area of

jurisdiction.

However, in the development of Solid Waste Management Plans, it shall conduct

consultations with the various sectors of the community. They should adopt measure to

promote and ensure the validity and effective implementation of solid waste management

programs in the component barangays. They should also recommend to appropriate local

government authorities specific measures or proposals for franchise or build-operate-

transfer agreements with duly recognized institutions, pursuant to R.A 6975, to provide

either exclusive or non-exclusive authority for the collection, transfer, storage,

processing, recycling or disposal of municipal solid waste (Environmental Code, 2014) in

the Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union.

The implementation of “Grinning Bulilit” project in elementary schools of

Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, provided and enhanced pupils’ natural science

background and experiences which are needed to make environmentally responsible

decisions. The pupils were transformed from kids with low level of environmental

literacy to committed and responsible citizens.

The above mentioned are the reasons that pushed the researchers to conduct the research

study. The researchers aim to determine the level of implementation of Solid Waste

Management in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union together with the level of

effectiveness of the program in lessening the problem on waste and the problems they

encountered in the implementation of Solid Waste Management.

Framework of the Study

This study was anchored on the theory of Waste Management in which it

represents a more in-depth account of the domain and contains conceptual analyses of

waste, the activity upon waste, and a holistic view of the goals of waste management.

Waste Management Theory is founded on the expectation that waste management is to

prevent waste causing harm to human health and the environment. The proper definition

of waste is crucial to constructing a sustainable agenda of waste management. It is largely

the case that current legislation attends to existing waste. Definitions emerging from this

condition may, however, conflict with the goals of waste prevention, because something

that already exists cannot be prevented from arising. When material is assigned the label
of ‘waste’, it will be treated as such; consequently, despite its explicit wish of waste

prevention, implicitly, legislation essentially amasses waste. The inherent philosophical

implication of such definitions is that they are not able to facilitate a sustainable waste

management system.

According to Hiriya (2003), there are six functional elements of Municipal Solid

Waste Management. First, Waste generation that encompasses activities in which

materials are identified as no longer being of value and are either thrown away or

gathered together for disposal. Second, waste handling and separation, storage and

processing at the source involves the activities associated with management of waste until

they are placed in storage container for collection. Handling also encompasses the

movement of loaded containers to the point of collection. Separation of waste

components is an important step in the handling and storage of solid waste at the source.

Third, in collection, the functional element of collection includes not only the gathering

of solid waste and recyclable materials, but also the transport of these materials, after

collection, to the location where the collection vehicle is emptied. This location may be a

material processing facility, a transfer station or a landfill disposal site. Fourth, separation

and processing and transformation of solid wastes: The types of means and facilities that

are now used for the recovery of waste materials that have been separated at the source

include curbside collection, drop off and buy back centers. The separation and processing

of wastes that have been separated at the source and the separation of commingled wastes

usually occur at a materials recovery facility, transfer stations, combustion facilities and

disposal sites. Fifth, the transfer and transport, this element involves two steps, namely

the transfer of wastes from the smaller collection vehicle to the larger transport
equipment and the subsequent transport of the wastes, usually over long distances, to a

processing or disposal site. Sixth, in disposal by land filling or land spreading which is

the ultimate fate of all solid wastes, whether they are residential wastes collected and

transported directly to a landfill site, residual materials from materials recovery facilities

(MRFs), residue from the combustion of solid waste, compost or other substances from

various solid waste processing facilities. A modern sanitary landfill is not a dump; it is an

engineered facility used for disposing of solid wastes on land without creating nuisances

or hazards to public. The municipal solid waste (MSW) industry has four components:

recycling, composting, land filling, and combustion.

Another Solid Waste Management support worth mentioning is the Republic Act

No. 9003, popularly known as “The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”,

an act providing for an ecological solid waste management program creating the

necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited and

providing penalties, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes. This law

requires all Local Government Units in the country to establish an ecological solid waste

management program within their jurisdictions and provides the necessary institutional

mechanisms to attain its objectives.

Municipal wastes, according to Kock (1999), is a never –ending stream that has to

be treated continuously. Managing people’s solid wastes should be taught utilizing every

available means of disseminating information. Waste management requires managerial

skills necessary in carrying out the problem. Komtz and Weihrich (1998) said that

“managing is an art, know-how and doing things in the light of realities of a situation”.
 This study was also anchored on the concept of Republic Act 9003, this Act shall

be known as the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, where it was stated

in section 16 that the province, city or municipality through its local solid waste

management boards, shall prepare its respective 10-years Solid Waste Management plans

consistent with the National Solid Waste Management.

Provided that the waste management plan shall be for the re-use recycling and

composting of waste generated in their respective jurisdictions. Through understanding

this law, the local Solid Waste Management Boards shall do the preparation of Solid

Waste Management plans in accordance with the National Solid Waste Management

framework. While the role of citizens is to follow the waste plan where in re-using,

reveling and composting of waste is promoted, this law views the proper segregation and

storage of waste (Section 22) wherein there shall be separate container for each type of

waste from all sources. The solid waste container depending on its use shall be properly

marked and identified for on-site collection as “compostable”, “non-recyclable”, or

“recyclable”, “or special waste, or any other classification. The collectors should be also

trained in this field to ensure the proper handling of waste (Section 23, RA 9003).

In the same way, under the R.A 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 it

is stated that discharging or depositing any water pollutant to the water body, or such

which will impede natural flow in the water body is prohibited. It also includes the

injecting or allowing waste to enter into the soil, anything that would pollute

groundwater, the disposal of potentially infectious medical waste into sea by vessels and

the transport, dumping or discharge of prohibited chemicals, substances or pollutants

listed under Toxic Chemicals Hazardous and Nuclear are likewise prohibited.
 Figure 1 presents the paradigm of the study. The input includes the level of

implementation of the Solid Waste Management, level of effectiveness in the

implementation of Solid Waste Management, the degree of seriousness of the problems

encountered in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management in the selected

barangays of Bacnotan, La Union. The process is assessment on the level of

implementation, level of effectiveness, and the degree of seriousness of the problems

encountered in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management in the selected

Barangays of Bacnotan, La Union through survey questionnaire and interview. The

output is the proposed measures to improve the implementation of the Solid Waste

Management in Selected Barangays of Bacnotan, La Union.

 Chapter 2

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research design, population and locale, instrumentation

and data collection, validity, data analysis, categorization of data and the measures and

procedures to address the issues on ethical standards.

Research Design

This study used a descriptive survey method of research using quantitative

method which asserts the present facts of the study. Descriptive survey method of

research is appropriate in the sense that the study describes the implementation,

effectiveness and the issues and concerns in the implementation of Solid Waste

Management in the selected barangays in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union.

 INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. Level of
Implementation of the
Solid Waste
Management in the
selected barangays of
Bacnotan, La Union.
Assessment on Proposed measures to
2. Level of implementation, improve the
Effectiveness in the effectiveness, and the implementation of the
implementation of Issues and concerns Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste encountered in the in the Selected Barangays
Management in the implementation of the of Bacnotan, La Union.
selected barangays of Solid Waste
Bacnotan, La Union. Management in the
Selected Barangay of
3. Issues and concerns Bacnotan, La Union
in the implementation through survey
of Solid Waste questionnaire and
Management in the interview.
selected barangays in
the Municipality of
Bacnotan, La Union?

Figure 1. Research Paradigm

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to assess the implementation of Solid Waste Management in the

selected Barangays in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following:

1. What is the level of implementation of the Solid Waste Management in the

selected Barangays in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union?

2. What is the level of effectiveness of the Solid Waste Management in the selected

Barangays in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union?

3. What are the issues and concerns in the implementation of Solid Waste

Management in the selected barangays in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La

Union?

4. What measures can be proposed to improve the implementation of Solid Waste

Management in the selected Barangays in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La

Union?

Importance of the Study

The following will benefit from the results of the study:

LGU. The result of the study will help the government in formulating new

measures to improve the implementation of Solid Waste Management.

Municipal Environmental Unit. This study will help the Municipal

Environmental Unit to further enhance the management of the implementation of

Solid Waste Management in their municipality.

Barangay Officials. This study will help the barangay officials to enhance the

managing of implementation in the Solid Waste Management in their barangay.

 Community. This study makes the community residents to become responsible in

maintaining a clean and green environment and to be free from bad odor.

Researchers. This study gave them more information and more knowledge

regarding solid waste management in the selected barangays in the municipality

of Bacnotan, La union.

Future Researchers. This study will encourage the future researchers to make a

deeper study and draw forth more knowledge about the implementation of solid

waste management.

Definition of terms

For better understanding the following terms are hereby defined;

Collection. It refers to the part of the process of waste management, waste

process of treating solid wastes and offers variety of solutions for recycling items that

don’t belong to trash. It is the transfer of solid waste from the point of use and disposal to

the point of treatment or landfill. Collection also includes the curbside collection of

recyclable materials that technically are not waste, as part of a municipal landfill

diversion program.

Composting. It refers to the organic matter that has been decomposed in a

process, organic waste to fertilizer production line uses the organic waste as the raw

material, such as organic waste, straw, excrement from people, livestock and poultry,

cake meal, agricultural and sideline products and solid waste from food processing, then

it is fermented, deodorized and thoroughly decomposed to be made fertilizer.

 Disposal. It refers to the act or process of getting rid of something, especially by

throwing it away. Coparm this agency how to process waste disposal a unique reality for

products, solutions and regulates the disposal of hazardous substance. The

manufacturing process is being changed in an effort to reduce waste disposal costs.

Management. It refers to the purposeful, systematic, control of the generation,

storage, collection, transportation, separation, processing, recycling, recovery, and final

disposal of solid waste.

Municipal solid waste. It refers to all solid waste generated in an area except

industrial and agricultural wastes. Sometimes includes construction and demolition debris

and other special wastes that may enter the municipal waste stream.

Resource recovery. It refers to the extraction and utilization of materials and

energy from wastes.

Reuse. It refers to the use of a product more than once in its original form, for the

same or a new purpose, and using recycled materials to make new products reduces the

use of virgin materials, which often involves harvesting trees and mining earth to

preventing environmental problems that come from landfill.

Solid Waste Management. It refers to the process of planning, organizing as well

as controlling any existing resources in order to achieve the goals that have been set

effectively and efficiently.

 Solid Waste. It refers to all discarded households, commercial waste, non-

hazardous institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings constructions debris

agricultural waste and other non- hazardous / non-toxic solid waste.