Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices free essay sample

Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices of Information Technology Students of Iloilo Doctors’ College at their Homes Diego Karlo S. Dosado Jake J. Gabayeron Raymond P. Ledesma Rene Lorenz G. Rios Regine S. Sarita John Marco L. Soquera 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 rapid urban migration, poor solid waste management practices are considered as disastrous activities.It has been observed that Iloilo City which is classified as highly urbanized city in Iloilo, Philippines, is now facing solid wastes problem resulting to a lot of environmental problems such as flood, pollution, congestion and others. We will write a custom essay sample on Assessing the Solid Waste Management Practices or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 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 aste 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. Abstract This paper highlights the results of the study that was conducted to analyze the s olid waste management practices of the waste generators, and the extent of their compliance with the Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. The study was conducted in Iloilo Doctors’ College at Iloilo, Philippines in 2012. The study utilized the descriptive method of research and employed survey research to gather data.The findings of this study served as basis in developing a handbook on solid waste management. Research findings showed that the waste generators do not practice waste segregation. Dumping of wastes in the streets, rivers and open drainage are often practiced. The respondents do not also practice recycling of wastes because of the lack of facilities and lack of support from the local government units. Thus, this study indicates that the local government units do not comply with the implementing rules and regulations of the RA 9003.Lack of financial resources, lack of authority to make financial and administrative decisions, no proper institutional set-up for solid waste management, the difficulty of locating and/or acquiring landfill site, and the poor public cooperation were among the factors that influence the non-compliance of the local government units with the RA 9003. Thus, massive educational campaign on appropriate and effective solid waste management practices should be conducted in the residential, institutional, industrial, hospitals and commercial establishments to promote public awareness.The local government units should formulate a long-term and comprehensive solid waste management programs that would encourage and motivate the public to encourage their cooperation and participation. The local government units should likewise reach out and build partnership with non-government organizations, private sectors and civic organizations to mobilize resources. Research Methodology A study was conducted to assess the solid waste management program in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines.The study used the descriptive research method and employed survey in determining the current solid waste management practices and extent of compliance with RA 9003. 1 set of questionnaire were used as tool in data gathering from the waste implementers of RA 9003. Th e study covered the responses of 100 waste implementers, which were classified as students of Iloilo Doctors’ College. Respondents from the residential areas were chosen using the multi-stage sampling.Random sampling was used to determine one sample barangay for each of the four year levels of the Information Technology Students namely: southern, northern, central and eastern areas. The respondent-implementers, on the other hand, included the officials of the barangays where respondent-waste generators are also residing. The city officials also serve `as respondents, being the persons responsible in the implementation of RA 9003. Results and Discussion Solid Waste Management Practices of the Waste GeneratorsThe proper solid waste segregation includes using separate containers for biodegradable, non-biodegradable, 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 materials. Table 1. Solid waste management practices of the respondent-waste generators in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.