Chapter 10 SR ECOLOGICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Objectives At the end of the chapter, students should be able to: Define waste management. Apply the 3 R's of waste management system. Understand and apply the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of the _ Philippines. Perform activities related to waste management. Waste Management Defined Waste management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials, usually ones produced by human activity, in an effort to reduce their effect on human health or local aesthetics or amenity. A subfocus in recent decades has been to reduce waste materials’ effect on the natural world and the environment and to recover resources from them. Waste management can involve solid, liquid or gaseous substances with different methods and fields of expertise for each.‘Waste management practices differ for developed and developing nations, for urban and rural areas, and for residential, industrial, and commercial producers. Waste management for non-hazardous residential and institutional waste in metropolitan areas is usually the responsibility of local government authorities, while management for non-hazardous ‘commercial and industrial waste is usually the responsibilty ofthe generator. Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another. The term is derived from the Latin trans (“across”) and portare ("to carry”). Industries which have the business of providing equipment, actual transport, transport of ‘people or goods and services used in transport of goods or people make up a large broad and important sector of most national economies, and are collectively referred to as transport industries. Waste treatment refers to the activities required to ensure that waste has the least ‘practicable impact on the environment. In many countries various forms of waste treatment are required by law. Recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products. Recycling prevents ‘useful material resources being wasted, reduces the consumption of raw materials and reduces energy usage, and hence greenhouse gas emissions, compared to virgin production. Recycling isa key concept of modern waste management and is the third component of the ‘waste hierarchy. Recyclable Materials, also called “recyclables” ot “recyclates’, may originate from a ‘wide range of sources including the home and industry. They include glass, paper, aluminium, asphalt ron, textiles and plastics. Biodegradable wast, such as food waste or garden waste, is also recyclable with the assistance of micro-organisms through composting or anaerobic digestion. Recyclates need to be sorted and separated into material types. Contamination of the recylates with other materials must be prevented to increase the recyclates value and facilitate easier reprocessing for the ultimate recycling facility ‘This sorting can be performed either by the producer of the waste or within semi- or fully-automated materials recovery facilities. Recycling does not include reuse where items retain their existing form for other purposes without the need for reproducing, Benefits from Recycling Recycling s beneficial in two ways: it reduces the inputs (energy and raw materials) toa ‘production system and reduces the amount of waste produced for disposal. ‘Some materials like aluminum can be recycled indefinitely as there is no change to the materials. Other recycled materials like paper require a percentage of raw materials (wood fibers) to be added to compensate for the degradation of existing fibers. “This reduces the environmental, social, and usually the economic costs of manufacturing Recycling aluminium saves 95% of the energy cost of processing new aluminium because the melting temperature is reduced from 900 °C to 600 °C. It is by far the most ‘efficient material to recycle.‘The most commonly used methods for waste disposal (landfill, pyrolysis, incineration) may be environmentally damaging and unsustainable. Therefore any way to reduce the ‘volume of waste being disposed in this fashion may be beneficial ‘The maximum environmental benefit is gained by waste minimization (reducing the amount of waste produced), and reusing items in their current form such as refilling bottles. Important Concepts of Waste Management ‘There are a number of concepts about waste management, which vary in their usage between countries or regions. This section presents some of the most general, widely-used concepts. ‘A. Waste hierarchy ‘The waste hierarchy refersto the “3 RS” reduce, reuse and recycle, which classify waste ‘management strategies according to their desirability in terms of waste minimization. ‘The waste hierarchy remains the cornerstone of most waste minimisation strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of waste. most ees prevention ‘pton minimisation reuse recycling feast energy recovery favoured pben disposal The 3 R's 1. Reduce (Waste minimisation) is the process and the policy of reducing the amount of waste produced by a person or a society. It is part of the wider aim of waste reduction which is often described as a component of the waste hierarchy. In the hierarchy, the most effective policies and processes are at the top. Waste minimisation is also strongly related to efforts to minimise resource and energy For the same commercial output, usually the fewer materials are used, the less waste is produced. Waste minimisation usually requires knowledge of the cradle-to-grave analysis (the tracking of materials from their roduction process, racial nto earth) and detailed knowledge of the composition of extraction to their return the waste.2. Reuseis using an item more than once. This includes conventional reuse where the item is used again forthe same function, and new-life reuse where it is used for a new function. Tn contrast, recycling is the breaking down of the used ite ‘which are used to make new items. Reuse can have financial and environmental benefits, either of which can be the main motivation for it. The financial motivation historically did, and in the developing world still does, lead to very high levels of reuse, but rising wages and ‘consequent consumer demand for the convenience of disposable products made the reuse of low value items such as packaging uneconomic in richer countries, eading to the demise of many reuse schemes. Current environmental awareness is gradu: regulations, such as the new packaging regulations, are gradually beginning to reverse the situation. “The classic example of conventional reuse is the doorstep delivery of mill in reusable bottles; other examples include the retreading of tires and the use of plastic delivery trays (transit packing) in place of cardboard cartons. “Advantages and Disadvantages of Reuse Potential advantages of resuse are as follows: Energy and raw materials savings as replacing many single use products with one reusable one reduces the number that need to be manufactured. 2, Reduced disposal needs and costs. 3. Refurbishment can bring sophisticated, sustainable, well paid jobs to underdeveloped economies. 4. Cost savings for business and consumers as a reusable product is often cheaper than the many single use products it replaces. 5, Some older items were better handcrafted and appreciate in value. -m into raw materials lly changing attitudes and Potential disadvantages of reuse are: Reuse often requires cleaning or transport, which have environmental costs. 2. Someitems, such a freon appliances or infant auto seats, could be hazardous ‘or less energy efficient as they continue to be used. 3. Reusable products need to be more durable than single use products, and hence require more material per item. This is particularly significant if only ‘ small proportion of the reusable products are in fact reused, 4. Sorting and preparing items for reuse takes time, which is inconvenient for consumers and costs money for businesses. 3. Recycling differs from reuse in that it breaks down the item into raw materials which are then used to make new items, as opposed to reusing the intact item. As this extra processing requires energy, as a rule of thumb reuse is environmentallypreferable to recycling ("reduce, reuse, recycle”), though recycling does have a significant part to play as it can often make use of items which are broken, worn out or otherwise unsuitable for reuse. However, as transport emissions are a major part of the environmental impact of both reuse and recycling, itis possible for recycling to be better where reuse requires a long transport distance, and which is better for a given item may depend on location. A complex life cycle analysis may bbe required to determine whether reuse, recycling or neither is bes for a given item and location, One difficulty is the need to estimate consumer behavior: redesigning an item to be reusable may do more harm than good if only a small proportion are actually reused, due to the increased material use per item. B. Extended Producer Responsibility Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a strategy designed to promote the integration of environmental costs associated with products throughout their life cycles into the market price ofthe products, Extended producer responsibility imposes accountability over the entire life cycle of products and packaging introduced on the market. This means that firms which manufacture, import and/or sell products are required to be financially or physically responsible for such products after their useful life, . Product Stewardship Product stewardship is a concept whereby environmental protection centers around the product itself, and everyone involved in the lifespan of the product is called upon to take up responsibility to reduce its environmental impact. For manufacturers, this includes planning for, and if necessary, paying for the recycling or disposal of the product at the end ofits useful life, For retailers and consumers, this means taking an active role in ensuring the proper disposal or recycling of an end-of-life product. D. Polluter Pays Principle ‘The Polluter Pays Principle is a principle where the polluting party pays for the damage done to the natural environment. With respect to waste management, this generally refers to the requirement for a generator to pay for appropriate disposal of the waste The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act No. 9003) Perhaps the most important reason why we have to act now on the worsening solid waste problem is their impact on human health. Health is a basic human right. We all deserve to live ina cleaner environment. We all desire for a healthy family... a healthy neighborhood. «healthy nation, And, the only way to satisfy these desires is to do away with garbage that breeds flies, roaches, rodents and harmful bacteria that can spread diseases in our homes and in our communities While there were already efforts in the past to address the problem head-on, the passage of Republic Act (R.A.) No, 9003, otherwise known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”, marked the turning point in the national development agenda for improved solid waste management and r‘What is R.A. No. 9003 Republic Act No. 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act” provides the legal framework for the country’s systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste ‘management program that shall ensure protection of public health and the environment. It ‘underscores, among other things, the need to create the necessary institutional mechanisms, and incentives, as well as imposes penalties for acts in violation of any of its provisions, 2 ‘The salient features of R.A. No. 9003 a. Creation of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), the National Ecology Center (NEC) and the Solid Waste Management Board in every province, city and municipality in the country. The NSWMC shall be responsible in the formulation of the National Solid Waste Management Framework and other policies on ‘solid waste, in overseeing the implementation of solid waste management plans and the ‘management of the solid waste management fund. The NEC, on the other hand, shall be responsible for consulting, information, training and networking services relative to the implementation of R.A.No, 9003. The Solid Waste Management Board of provinces, cities and municipalities shall be responsible for the development of their respective solid waste management plans. b. Formulation of the National Solid Waste Management Framework; 10-year solid ‘management plans by local government units consistent with the National Solid Waste ‘Management Framework; ¢. Mandatory segregation of solid waste to be conducted primarily at the source such as household, institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural sources; 4. Setting of minimum requirements to ensure systematic collection and transport of "wastes and the proper protection of the health of garbage collectors; ‘e. Establishment of reclamation programs and buy-back centers for recyclable and toxic materials; £, Promotion of eco-labeling in local products and services; Prohibition on non-environmentally acceptable products and packaging; hh. Establishment of Materials Recovery Facility in every barangay or cluster of barangays; i. Prohibition against the use of open dumps; j.. Sting of guidelines/crteria for the establishment of controlled dumps and sanitary landfills; k. Provision of rewards, incentives both fiscal and non-fiscal, financial assistance, grants and the like to encourage LGUs and the general public to undertake effective solid waste management; and 1. Promotion of research on solid waste management and environmental education in the formal and non-formal sectors.How can we help solve the solid waste problem? ‘There are many ways to do it. A highly recommended formula is to adopt the 3Rs of Ecological Waste Management: REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE, (National Solid Waste Management Commission) In addition to that, let us refrain from doing what have been prohibited under the law, to include but are not limited to the following: a. Littering, throwing, dumping of waste materials in public places like roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros, parks and establishments; b. Open burning of solid waste; c. Allowing the collection of non-segregated or unsorted waste; d. Squatting in open dumps and landfills; e. Open dumping or burying of biodegradable and non- biodegradable materials in flood- prone areas; £ Unauthorized removal of recyclable material intended for collection by authorized persons; g. Mixing of source-separated recyclable material with other solid waste in any vehicle, box, container or receptacle used in solid waste collection or disposal; and h. Manufacture, distribution or use of non-environmentally acceptable packaging materials.