3 Waste Management

Resolving the escalating waste management issues is one of the most

urgent social issues, especially in emerging nations. A growing number of
studies and initiatives assert that the attitudes and actions of individuals
towards trash management are key determinants in the transformation of
individual behavior and attitude from 'improperly disposing waste' to'managing
waste sustainably' Gutierrez (2022) argues, based on detailed overviews of
waste management strategies in European nations, that present top-down
command-and-control rules and the use of economic tools of punishment and
reward have limitations, and that behavioral consideration is essential. Using
a participatory household survey in a pilot community, this study explores the
perceptions and behaviors of garbage disposal in line with previous research.
As part of community-based action mobilization, the study also examines the
possibilities of stakeholder participation in the survey process.

According to Gabinete et al. (2022), solid waste management is a

critical worldwide issue that requires an immediate response from the
government and its citizens. It is anticipated that the Philippines' garbage
production would continue to rise in the years ahead. Waste is a normal
component of the human life cycle and is produced in several forms, including
bodily waste, solid waste, hazardous garbage, and even electronic waste.
Solid trash is one of the most abundant types of garbage generated
worldwide. Solid waste is defined as the undesired and wasted materials
generated by normal human activity. This comprises "yard garbage, food
waste, plastics, wood, metals, papers, rubbers, leather, batteries, inert
materials, textiles, paint containers, demolition and construction debris, and
several more difficult-to-classify commodities."

According to Coracero et al. (2021), a variety of projects have been

launched in the Philippines to eradicate and promote zero waste or a trash-
free nation. One of these programs is the "Trash-Free Philippines" envisioned
by DENR, resulting in the launch of projects such as "Bayan Ko, Linis Ko
Program" under the National Clean-up (under Proclamation 244 Series of
1993) to strengthen the implementation of RA 9003 and encourage the
participation of the people in achieving a clean Philippine environment
(DENR, n.d.). Another program is the Zero Waste Project, which was initiated
in Alaminos City, Pangasinan following the formation of the Global Alliance for
Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). GAIA has provided substantial financial
support for this initiative. The alliance allocated sufficient funds for printing
instructional materials, purchasing shredders for organics and plastics, and
providing mini-grants to villages for the construction of eco-sheds and the
acquisition of vehicles, among other things. Regarding the city's role, it has
been contributing by providing two full-time personnel to the project. In
addition, the city office was responsible for the team's transportation, logistical
support for all activities and training, technical aid, and strategic planning
assistance for the villages. Portrero, a neighborhood in Malabon City, has
adopted the zero-waste philosophy. The city's residents were instructed to
separate their waste into four distinct categories: kitchen waste, yard waste,
recyclable waste, and residual waste. In the Philippines, solid waste
management is a major concern. As the population grows, it is anticipated
that the amount of waste will continue to climb over the next years. Existing
laws and frameworks exist for managing waste concerns, but only if they are
executed correctly and strictly will they be effective. It will be addressed not
only by the government, but also with the active involvement and
wholehearted adoption of the solutions taught by the experts, with the
assistance of the citizens.

4 WASTE SEGREGATION

Flores and Tan (2019) emphasized that the enormous rise in the
generation of unwelcome garbage that can be attributed to the rapidity with
which industrialization and urbanization are occurring. In the past, determining
how to properly sort trash has proven to be a challenge for the community.
However, there are a lot of programs that are being put into place in order to
distinguish recyclable trash from regular trash. Around 20 years ago, people
began to separate their rubbish, and up to today, many facilities that sort
waste have their very own automated assembly lines. But this cycle of the
process is not without flaws: There is a significant amount of physical labor
involved in the quality control step of the waste sorting process at the
moment. At the industrial level, the sorting of mixed garbage is accomplished
through the use of the following methods: manually sorting the larger objects,
and sorting the remaining materials according to their size with the assistance
of big spinning drums. It is smaller in size, and the diameter has holes in
which particles will be dropped, while huge items will hang inside of the drum.

Siapo et al (2020) stated that it's best to be cautious with dangerous

garbage. However, these actions don't produce infectious garbage. Non-
infectious waste is trash that doesn't harm people. This comprises
uncontaminated tissues, fluids, and biological materials. Examples: In
hospitals, all human excrement should be considered dangerous to prevent
disease. Many labs utilize known and controlled substances that aren't
contagious. Petri dishes, test tubes, forceps, pipettes, gloves, lab coats, and
other items that touch infectious-agent-free waste are likewise considered
infectious-agent-free. Hospital garbage management affects sustainability.
Despite not always being done, protocols today prioritize waste segregation.
Burning medical waste releases hazardous gases and particulates. Waste
management is becoming a global issue related to government regulatory
agencies' sustainability. Since hospitals generate a lot of human waste,
several regulatory agencies have requirements for managing their residues.
Hospitals treat many patients. Burning pathogenic and sharp hospital waste
ensures biosafety and prevents biochemical accidents. Dispose of contagious
waste properly to protect public health. Sharps waste—needles, syringes, and
scalpels—must be disposed away in a red container. This container's
distinctive design makes it safe to put the pointed object inside without risking
injury. Sharps box disposal protocols differ each facility, so check with yours.

The problem of how the people should organize and dispose of their
trash is one of the most difficult challenges facing the community. Not only
does it create issues relating to health, but it also impedes the progress that is
being made across the nation as a whole. The discipline that is associated
with the control of the generation, storage, collection, transport or transfer,
processing, and disposal of solid waste materials in a manner that best
addresses the range of public health, conservation, economics, aesthetic,
engineering, and other environmental considerations is known as solid waste
management. This discipline can be defined as the following: Functions
pertaining to planning, administration, finances, engineering, and law are
included in the management of solid waste. Complex inter-disciplinary
relationships between subjects such as public health, city and regional
planning, political science, geography, sociology, economics, communication
and conservation, demography, engineering, and material sciences could be
part of the solution. The major objective of waste management is to lessen
and eventually eradicate the negative effects that waste products have on
human health and the surrounding environment in order to foster economic
growth and a higher quality of life for all people (Manzano et al, 2020)

According to Dolipas et al. (2020), effective disposal is one of the most

crucial parts of a school's waste management program. The Philippine
government has enacted the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of
2000, also known as Republic Act No. 9003, declaring the state's policy to
adopt a systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management
program, which includes the establishment of the necessary institutional
mechanisms. Following items are included: Disposal refers to the discharge,
deposit, dumping, spilling, leaking, or placement of any solid waste into or
onto an area of land. The materials recovery facility comprises a transfer or
sorting station for solid waste, a drop-off center, a composting facility, and a
recycling facility. In addition, segregation at source shall refer to the solid
waste management practice of separating distinct components present in
solid waste at the place of origin in order to enhance recycling and re-use of
resources and limit the volume of garbage for collection and disposal.

3 WASTE DISPOSAL

The process of disposing of waste involves not only throwing away and
handling solid waste but also providing a number of options for recycling
goods that do not belong in the trash. It's one way that useless things can be
turned into useful resources. It is something that every single family home,
factory, and commercial enterprise owner in the entire planet requires. The
process of treating, managing, reusing, and otherwise disposing of wastes is
known as waste disposal. Agricultural wastes, residential wastes, industrial
wastes, commercial wastes, institutional wastes, wastes from construction
and demolition, wastes from municipal services, wastes from processes such
as manufacturing, and wastes from industrial processes are the numerous
categories of solid wastes (Esquinas et al., 2020).

Molina and Catan (2021) assert that the Philippines is an archipelagic

country that can be found in Southeast Asia. It has a huge and young
population, which, together with the growing urbanization and expanding
middle class, has contributed to its vibrant and rapidly expanding economy.
As a result of this circumstance, the amount of solid waste produced in the
Philippines has also increased. According to the definition provided by
Republic Act No. 9003, solid trash includes all abandoned home and
commercial waste, as well as non-hazardous institutional and industrial waste,
street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural waste, and other non-
hazardous and non-toxic solid waste. It is also plain to see that the generation
of solid waste is rising in other parts of the world. Management of solid waste
must always be a priority. The term "solid waste management" refers to the
process of controlling the generation, storage, collection, transfer and
transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner that is in
accordance with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering,
conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental considerations, and that is
also responsive to the attitudes of the general public. This is accomplished in
a manner that is both environmentally responsible and sensitive to public
sentiments. However, management of solid waste is frequently disregarded.

The improper disposal of waste, the ineffective collection of waste, and

the absence of disposal facilities are some of the challenges of solid waste
management in the Philippines. Because of this, the Philippines was thought
to be the world's leader in the production of plastic pollution. Inadequate
management of solid waste can also result in potential dangers to the
inhabitants' health, as well as environmental issues such as the contamination
of water and soil, air pollution, and flooding, in addition to other
socioeconomic issues. The management of solid waste is regarded as an
urgent problem on a global scale that requires an immediate reaction from the
government and the people of the affected country. The amount of waste
produced in the Philippines is steadily increasing, and its production is
anticipated to continue rising in the years to come. The Republic Act (RA)
9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Garbage Management Act of 2000,
is the most comprehensive solution that is currently available in the country.
This law emphasises the practices of waste segregation, proper disposal, and
waste diversion. In addition to this, the significance of imagining a Philippines
free of waste and of fostering people's engagement and awareness is
underlined. The process of valorization is another potential solution to the
challenge of managing solid waste. This process can also be used to solve
other environmental issues, such as the exhaustion of natural resources.
These answers, which have been outlined, will not be attainable until there is
excellent governance in place, the people of the country will actively
participate, and all constituents and agencies in the Philippines will work
together (Gonzales et al, 2021).

References

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A Long-Standing Problem: A Review on the Solid Waste Management in the
Philippines. Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues
(IJSEI), 2(3), 213-220.

Molina, R. A., & Catan, I. (2021). Solid waste management awareness and
practices among senior high school students in a state college in Zamboanga
City, Philippines. Aquademia, 5(1), ep21001.
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Manzano-Abdon, M. G., & Nalupa-Farin, E. (2020) Solid Waste Management

Practices of High School Students in Selected Secondary Schools of
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Siapo, M., Aragon, M. A. M., Baban, J., Panotulan, F., Hebres, R. K., &
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