Introduction The overall challenge of sustainability is to avoid crossing irreversible thresholds that damage the life systems of earth

while creating long-term economic, political, and moral arrangements that secure the wellbeing of present and future generations (Orr, 2005). A factor that could worsen the environmental crisis is the increasing accumulation of solid wastes which either have no counterpart in nature or which have not been properly disposed (Arias, 1998). Solid wastes have been identified as one of the most important environmental problems of urbanization. For an urban center with rapidurban migration, poor solid waste management practices are considered as disastrous activities.

It has been observed that Bacolod City which is classified as highly urbanized city in Negros Occidental, Philippines, is now facing solid wastes problem resulting to a lot of environmental problems such as flood, pollution, congestion and others. This is due to the existence of the fast-growing industries in the city, which encourage the rural people to flock in the city for better employment opportunities. Alarmed by this problem, the Local Government Units (LGUs) have realized the need to improve the methods and ways in handling the solid wastes to ensure protection of public health and environment from any harm caused by these wastes. The Republic Act 9003 also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which stipulates the need to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management programs which shall ensure proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practices in ecological waste management excluding incineration. Those wastes must be deposited in Sanitary

Landfill to ensure protection of public health and environment. The barangay shall be responsible for the collection, segregation, recycling of biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and reusable wastes. Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) will be established in every barangay or cluster of barangays (Section 1 of Rule XI of the IRR 9003). The LGUs shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Act within their respective jurisdictions (RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code). Segregation and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level specifically for biodegradable, compostable and reusable wastes provided, that the collection of non-recyclable materials and special wastes shall be the responsibility of the municipality or city (Section 10 of RA 9003). This paper provides an analysis of the solid waste management program of Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Philippines.Ma. Teresa B. B

Solid Waste Management Practices of the Waste Generators The proper solid waste segregation includes using separate containers for biodegradable, nonbiodegradable, domestic hazardous and bulky wastes with markings to distinguish the type of wastes inside, and segregating for re-use, recycling and composting. These however, are not being practiced in Barangays Sum-ag and 19 and seldom observed in Barangays Estefania and 10 (Table 1). Proper collection and transport were not practiced in the four barangays. The LGUs in the barangay level were not responsible in the collection of the biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and reusable wastes. Proper waste disposal was seldom practiced in the four barangays. Solid wastes were usually dumped in the creeks, canals, open spaces, along the sidewalks and deposited in the Felisa Open Dumpsite. Incineration was always practiced. Waste recycling was not practiced in Barangay 19 and seldom practiced in

the other three barangays due to lack of recycling facilities, LGUs were not giving much attention to recycling industry as well as public were not encouraged to use recycled