The document discusses solid waste management in Zamboanga City and provides tips for reducing waste. It notes that Zamboanga City disposes of 350 to 450 cubic meters of solid waste daily, but only 70-72% is collected. The largest components of solid waste in the Philippines are yard waste, fines and inert materials, and food waste. Source reduction, including reducing packaging and unnecessary purchases, reusing items, and composting, can significantly reduce the amount of solid waste. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 aims to address solid waste problems through waste minimization and appropriate collection, transport, treatment and disposal.
The document discusses solid waste management in Zamboanga City and provides tips for reducing waste. It notes that Zamboanga City disposes of 350 to 450 cubic meters of solid waste daily, but only 70-72% is collected. The largest components of solid waste in the Philippines are yard waste, fines and inert materials, and food waste. Source reduction, including reducing packaging and unnecessary purchases, reusing items, and composting, can significantly reduce the amount of solid waste. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 aims to address solid waste problems through waste minimization and appropriate collection, transport, treatment and disposal.
The document discusses solid waste management in Zamboanga City and provides tips for reducing waste. It notes that Zamboanga City disposes of 350 to 450 cubic meters of solid waste daily, but only 70-72% is collected. The largest components of solid waste in the Philippines are yard waste, fines and inert materials, and food waste. Source reduction, including reducing packaging and unnecessary purchases, reusing items, and composting, can significantly reduce the amount of solid waste. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 aims to address solid waste problems through waste minimization and appropriate collection, transport, treatment and disposal.
The document discusses solid waste management in Zamboanga City and provides tips for reducing waste. It notes that Zamboanga City disposes of 350 to 450 cubic meters of solid waste daily, but only 70-72% is collected. The largest components of solid waste in the Philippines are yard waste, fines and inert materials, and food waste. Source reduction, including reducing packaging and unnecessary purchases, reusing items, and composting, can significantly reduce the amount of solid waste. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 aims to address solid waste problems through waste minimization and appropriate collection, transport, treatment and disposal.
EUSE ECYCLE ESPOND Everyday the amount of solid wastes in our city is increasing. According to City Public Service Office (cited in UP Planades, ZC Masterplan 1997-2012), Zamboanga City disposes of 350 to 450 cu.m of solid wastes daily and only about 70 to 72 % is collected. We can do a lot to help solve this growing problem of our city. This booklet describes how we can do our share in helping our environment. We do not need special training or education to contribute to the solutions of the increasing problem of trash. Our government cannot solve this problem alone. What we need is our earnest desire to save our deteriorating environment. It needs our participation!
Whats in our trash?
Let us look at what made up our trash. The study conducted by Consoer, Townsend & Associates (cited in EMB, DENR, 1996) shows the following composition of the solid wastes in the Philippines: IBD
Table 1. Average Composition
Philippines Component Yard and Field Waste Fines and Inert Wood Food Wastes Paper and Cardboard Plastics and Petroleum Products Textiles Metals Glass Leather and Rubber Total
have the potential to be reduced, reused or recycled. For example, yard and field waste which is the highest component, can be recycled through the process of composting. Paper can also be recycled. Hence, we can really substantially reduce the amount of waste we dispose of. Less waste means less of a waste problem to deal with. Less waste will also improve the collection efficiency of our solid waste collection system. Less waste will create a domino effect in the other functional elements of the solid waste management system.
The Functional Elements of
Solid Waste Management Solid Waste Generation Storage Collection Transfer & Transport
Processing & Recovery
Onsite Storage
This where the solid waste generated is placed before
collection. A good onsite storage system must meet the following requirements: it must isolate the wastes from the environment to prevent health hazards, it must be aesthetically acceptable, and it must facilitate collection.
Disposal
Solid Waste Generation
This is defined as those activities in which the materials are identified as no longer being of value and either thrown away or gathered for disposal
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Collection
Involves the gathering and hauling of solid wastes to
transfer stations, processing and recovery stations, or to final disposal sites.
I cost of collection is usually 40 to 80 % of the total SW Mngt. cost.
Transfer and Transport
A transfer station is place where the wastes from
smaller collection vehicles are loaded into larger transport vehicles. It is normally economical to put a transfer station if the disposal site is quite far.
Processing and Recovery
This is a landmark legislation that seeks to address
the alarming problems we have over our solid wastes. By instituting mechanisms of WASTE MINIMIZATION, RESOURCE RECOVERY, APPROPRIATE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT SERVICES, and ENVIRONMENTALLYSOUND TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL, this new law seeks to address the major causes of the current solid waste crisis in Metro Manila and to arrest similar problems throughout the country.
HIGHLIGHTS FEATURES of RA 9003 (Arroyo, 2001)
Recovery of resources, conversion products, and
energy from solid wastes
Sanitary Landfill
An operation in which the wastes to be disposed of are
compacted and covered with a layer of soil at the end of each days operation.
RA 9003 Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act of 2000 Last January 26, 2001, President Gloria Macapagal signed into law the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. IBD
Stresses the importance of environmentally sound
techniques of waste minimization, such as but not limited to: resource conservation segregation at source recycling resource recovery reuse, and composting
It provides for the mandatory segregation of
waste at the household level with collection vehicles to have appropriate compartments of sorted wastes or separate collection schedules for specific types of wastes.
It prohibits the open dumping of solid wastes and
the establishment of sanitary landfills for final disposal.
It mandates the establishment of recycling centers at
every barangay nationwide.
It calls for the integration of solid waste management
concerns in the school curriculum, starting at the elementary level, high school and up to the tertiary level. CALLS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
It directs an inventory of existing markets for
recycled materials and compost.
It requires the preparation of ten-year solid
management plans by all local government units. The law also empowers local government units to effectively pursue their respective solid waste management systems in their area of jurisdiction by providing them the needed policy and technical support.
Source Reduction: Solution
Basic
As a nation, we are starting to realize that we cant
solve the solid waste dilemma just by finding new places to put trash. Simply put, source reduction is waste prevention. Source reduction is a basic solution to the garbage glut: LESS WASTES MEANS LESS OF A WASTE PROBLEM. It actually prevents the generation of waste in the first place. It includes actions that reduce the overall amount or toxicity of waste created.
Advantages of Source Reduction
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conserve resources reduce pollution help cut waste disposal and handling cost
TIPS FOR REDUCING
WASTE (USEPA, 1992)
SOLID
Reduce 1. Reduce the amount of unnecessary packaging. Packaging materials serve many purposes - protect and contain a product, prevent tampering, provide information, and preserve hygienic integrity and freshness. However, some packaging is designed largely to enhance a products attractiveness or prominence on the store shelf. Since packaging materials account for a large volume of the trash we generate, they provide a good opportunity for reducing waste.
For example: A peanut butter of the same quality, one is placed in a box the other without packaging material. Choose the one without the necessary packaging material.
2. Adopt practices that reduce waste toxicity
Use nonhazardous or less
hazardous components to accomplish the task. Learn alternative to household items containing hazardous substances. If you do need to use products with hazardous components, use only the amount needed. For products containing hazardous components, read and follow all directions on product use.
Look for items that are available in refillable containers.
Take only what is needed. Think about reusables to reduce solid wastes
For example: Use a pen with refillable ink. Not only that the it reduces wastes, it is also cheaper to buy refill ink than buying a new pen.
4. Maintain and repair durable products.
Although durable products sometimes cost more initially, their extended life span may offset the higher cost and even save money over the long term than items/products that have to be thrown out and replaced frequently.
For example: Use of battery with no mercury. Normally, the label will show whether its mercury-laden or not.
5. Reuse bags, containers,
and other items.
Reuse 3. Consider reusable products. Many products are designed to be used more than once. Reusable products and containers often result in less waste.
Many everyday items can have more than one use.
Before discarding bags, containers, and other items, consider if it is hygienic and practical to use them. Reusing products extends their lives, keeping them out of the solid waste stream longer. For example:
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The plastic bags used for wrapping goods when we buy from a department store can be used again as containers when we go to a wet market.
8. Choose recyclable products and containers and
recycle them.
6. Borrow, rent, or share items used infrequently.
Seldom-used items, like certain power tools and party goods, often collect dust, rust, take up valuable storage space, and ultimately end up in the trash. Consider renting or borrowing these items the next time theyre needed. Infrequently used items also might be shared among neighbors, friends or family. Borrowing, renting, or sharing items saves both money and natural resources.
7. Sell or donate goods instead of throwing them out.
One persons trash is another persons treasure. Instead of discarding unwanted items try selling or donating them. Reusing them will keep them from being thrown away.
Cope in can
Consider products made of
materials that are collected for recycling locally (example aluminum, glass, steel, etc.) Producing goods from recycled materials typically consumes less energy and conserves raw materials.
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a
100-watt bulb lightingfor almost four hours or provide power to your television for three hours (ODNR, 2001). Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to a light a 100watt bulb for four hours (ODNR, 2001).
9. Select products from recycled materials
For recycling to succeed, recyclable materials must be processed into new products, and those products must be purchased and used.
For example: Used clothing can be given, donated to a charity or sold to potential buyers.
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Recycle
10. Compost yard trimmings
and some food scraps.
Backyard composting of certain food scraps and yard
trimmings can significantly reduce the amount of waste that needs to be managed by the local government or put into a landfill. When properly composted, these wastes can be turned into natural soil additives for use on lawn and gardens, and used as potting soil for house plants. Finished compost can improve soil texture, increase ability of the soil to absorb air and water, suppress weed growth, decrease erosion, and reduce the need to apply commercial soil additives.
There are many ways to reduce the amount and the
toxicity of solid waste. By thinking creatively, many new uses for common items and new possibilities for reduction and recycling can be discovered.
Respond
11. Educate others on source reduction and recycling
practices. Make your preferences known to manufacturers, merchants, and community leaders. Share information about source reduction, recycling, and composting with others. Encourage them to learn more about solid waste issues and to work toward implementing and promoting source reduction, recycling, and composting. We all have the power to influence others and help create the type of world in which we want to live.
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12. Be creative find ways to reduce waste quantity
and toxicity.
References 1. USEPA (1992). The Consumers Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste. 2. Republic Act 9003 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. 3. UP Planades (1998). Zamboanga City Master Development Plant, 1997-2012. 4. EMB, DENR (1996). Solid Waste Management for Local Governments. 5. Arroyo, G.M. (2001). Speech delivered during the signing of RA 9003 last January 26, 2001.
