Module 3: SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, the learner will be able to:

1. Define solid waste;

2. Identify the types of solid waste;
3. Identify the sources of solid waste;
4. Identify the agencies in-charge in managing the solid waste in Metro Manila; and
5. Determine the efforts made by the agencies to address the issues on solid waste
management.

Learning Content:

Solid waste is refuse arising from human, animal and industrial activities that are normally solid
in nature and discarded or thrown away as useless and/or unwanted. It also includes wastes
arising from the conduct of public service such as street sweepings, landscapes maintenance
and the cleaning of calamities/disasters wrought debris.

Solid waste management refers to all activities pertaining to the control, transfer and transport,
processing and disposal of solid waste in accordance with the best principles of public health,
economic, engineering, conservation, aesthetic and other environmental considerations.

Classification of Refuse/Solid Waste

1. Household wastes or Municipal wastes. Wastes generated from residential and

commercial establishments. It includes wastes from household, construction and demolition
sites, sanitation residue and wastes from streets. It is categorized as either biodegradable or
non-biodegradable.

a. Biodegradable wastes are any material that can be reduced into finer particles (degraded or
decomposed) by a microbiological organisms or enzymes.

b. Non-Biodegradable wastes are inorganic solid waste which do not undergo decomposition
hence are non-compostable and non-putrescible or also non- biodegradable waste material
such as plastic bags, Styrofoam, tetra packs, sachets, and the like including housekeeping and
building wastes from sweeping and other debris.

2. Industrial Wastes include metal, chemical, paper, pesticide, dye, refining and rubber
goods. Direct exposure to chemicals in hazardous waste such as mercury and cyanide
can be fatal.
3. Biomedical wastes or Hospital wastes are generated during the treatment, diagnosis or
immunization of human beings or animals or in research activities in these fields or in the
production or testing of biologicals.

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Key Components of Solid Waste Management

1. Generation of solid waste is the stage at which materials become valueless to the
owners and they wish to get rid of the waste material already. Some of the wastes,
however, if considered valueless to the users might not be valueless to other.
2. Storage is the system for keeping materials after they have been thrown away prior to
collection and disposal. Improved storage facilities include:
a. small containers such as household containers, plastic bins, etc.;
b. large containers such as communal bins, oil drums, etc.;
c. shallow pits; and
d. communal depots such as walled or fenced-in areas.
3. Collection refers to how wastes are collected for transportation to the final disposal site.
Collection system should be carefully planned to ensure that storage facilities do not
overloaded. Collection of solid waste is made through the decision of the elected officials
whether it is a:
a. Municipal Collection was made by the government including the vehicles to be
used and the manpower.
b. Private Collection was made with contract among the residents of the community
for collecting their solid waste and the private agency.
c. Contract Collection is made by city or municipal government hires private firms to
collect the solid waste.

Collection Methods

a. Curb side or Alley pick-up. The quickest and most economical method of collection using
standard containers.
b. Set-out, Set-back method. The collector gets the container from the residents’ waste
storages or racks. The crew then empty the container into the truck as the same manner
as the curb method. The collector then returns the empty container into the residents’
waste storage or racks.

c. Backyard pick-up. The collectors enter the residents’ property and collect the waste from the
waste storage. The wastes then are placed in the push-pull cart then emptied it into the truck.

4. Transportation. The stage when solid wastes are transported to the final disposal site.
Transportation can be divided into three (3) types.

a. Human-powered transportation such as open hand-cart, hand-cart with bins, wheelbarrow or

tricycle.

b.Animal-powered transportation.

c. Motorized transportation using tractor and trailer, standard truck or tipper-truck.

5. Disposal is the final stage in solid-waste management. It is classified in four (4) main methods
such as:

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 a. Land Application or Landfilling

Sanitary landfill is the cheapest satisfactory means of disposal, because it is suitable land
is within economic range of the sources of the wastes. In a modern landfill, refuse is spread
in thin layers, each of which is compacted by a bulldozer before the next is spread. When
about 3m (10 ft) of refuse has been laid down, it is covered by a thin layer of earth, which
is also compacted. Pollution of surface and groundwater is minimized by lining and
contouring the fill, compacting and planting the cover, selecting proper soil, diverting
upland drainage, and placing wastes in sites not subject to flooding or high groundwater
levels. Gases are generated in landfills through anaerobic decomposition of solid wastes.
If a significant amount of methane is produced underneath, it may be explosive; proper
venting eliminates this problem.

b. Burning or Incineration

This method should generally take place off-site or a considerable distance downward of
dwellings. Burning may be used to reduce the volume of wastes and may be appropriate
where there is limited space for burial or landfill. Its advantage is the reduced volume of
combustible waste in addition that it is appropriate in off- site pits to reduce scavenging.

c. Composting

Composting operations of solid wastes include preparing refuse and degrading organic
matter by anaerobic microorganisms. The refuse is presorted, to remove materials that
might have salvage value or cannot be decomposed, and is ground to improve the
efficiency of decomposition process.

d. Waste to Energy Technologies

Waste-to-energy, a general term used for the combustion of Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW) with energy recovery is also referred to as Municipal Waste Combustion (MWC)
or resource recovery.

e. Resource Conservation and Recovery

Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (EIS System)

The Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System is a holistic process of organization,

administration and procedures institutionalized for purposes of assessing the significance of the
effects of any project or undertaking on the quality of the physical, biological and socio-
economic environment and designing appropriate preventive mitigating and enhancement
measures.

Basic Policy and Operating Procedures

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The EIS System is concerned primarily with assessing the direct and indirect impacts of a
project on the biophysical and human environment conditions. It adheres to the “safety first”
principle that these impacts are addressed by appropriate environmental protection and
enhancement measures.

The EIS System aids proponents in incorporating environmental considerations in planning their
projects as well as in determining what their project ensures full connection in the collaborative
efforts towards environmental safety. Project proponents are also responsible for determining
and disclosing all relevant information necessary for a methodical assessment of the
environmental impacts of their projects.

Projects Required to Comply with Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) Criteria

1. An Environmentally Critical Project (ECP). A project will most likely have risk or negative
environmental impact. It should see to it that safe and feasible actions are toward the
balancing between benefits and risks.
2. A project in Environmental Critical Area (ECA). An area which is ecological, socially or
geologically sensitive should be considered as prime “watchdog”. It should prioritize on
the preservation of the sea and land animals for balance ecology.

Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs)

1. Heavy industries
2. Resource Extractive Industries
3. Infrastructure Projects
4. Golf course projects

Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)

1. Areas declared by the law as national parks, wastershed, reserves, wildlife preserves
and sanctuaries.
2. Areas set aside as potential tourist spots.
3. Areas which are habitat of threatened endangered species of indigenous Philippine
plants and animals.
4. Areas of unique historic archaeological or scientific interest.
5. Areas which are traditionally occupied by indigenous people or cultural communities.
6. Areas frequently hit by natural calamities.
7. Areas with critical slopes.
8. Areas classified as prime agricultural lands.
9. Recharge areas of aquifers.
10. Water bodies which are used for domestic supply or support fisheries and wildlife.
11. Mangrove areas which have critical ecological functions or on which people depend for
livelihood.
12. Coral reefs which have critical ecological functions.

Projects not covered by the EIS System

1. Projects which are not ECPs or not located in ECAs.

2. Project or structures that have been in operation or existing prior to 1982, even if they
can be classified as ECPs or located in an ECAs except for their daily production

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 capacity or area have been expanded, or if their production processes have been
changed.
3. Countryside Business and Barangay Entities (CBBEs) or so called Kalakain 20
enterprises because they employ no more than 20 persons, which have been registered
with the DTI from 1991 to 1994. Non-coverage of CBBE , however is limited to 5-year
period only, from date of registration.

Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)

Environmental Compliance Certificate is a document issued by the DENR-EMB after a positive

review of an ECC application after certifying that the proponent has complied with all the
requirements of the EIS system and has committed to implement its approved Environmental
Management Plan. It also provides guidance to other agencies and to LGUs on EIA findings and
recommendations which need to be considered in their respective decision-making process.

An ECC shall contain specific measures and conditions that the project proponent has to
undertake before and during the operation of a project, and in some cases, during the project’s
abandonment phase to mitigate identified environmental impacts.

In general, the following are the salient features of an ECC:

1. Scope of project or undertaking.

2. Conditions conformed with by the proponent to implement the mitigation measures for
potentially negative impacts and/or enhancement measures for potentially positive
impacts as identified in the EIA report.
3. Suggestion/recommendation to assist LGUs and other agencies of the government to
incorporate the EIA results in their decision-making process.