Solid Waste
Research of Group 1
Introduction:
The Philippines, like the majority of developing nations in Asia and the Pacific, has
more difficult times managing waste in urban metropolitan areas. According to data from
the World Bank published in 2001, over 25% of the nation's total garbage is produced by
cities in Metro Manila.
Kinds:
• Municipal Solid Waste -All materials from homes and businesses
that people no longer need are referred to as municipal solid waste
(MSW). Weekly collections of MSW from the curbside are often made
by a dump truck, who then transports it to a landfill or an incinerator to
be burned.
• Non-Municipal Solid Waste -Non-municipal solid waste is waste
that is not produced by residential or commercial establishments or by
community activities. This could also refer to solid waste produced by
businesses. Businesses that produce non-municipal solid waste while
producing goods (NMSW).
• Construction/Demolition Waste -Solid waste from the destruction of
buildings is referred to as C/D waste or debris. Common examples of
this trash are scrap wood, drywall, roofing materials, non-asbestos
insulation, bricks, concrete, glass, and plumbing and electrical
equipment. After construction/demolition or before disposal, C/D waste
must be further processed—shredded, crushed, ground, pulverized, or
in some other way—into a form that can no longer be identified as C/D waste.
• Industrial solid wastes -Industrial Solid Wastes include industrial
process wastes and pollution control wastes generated by
manufacturing or industrial processes that are not hazardous wastes,
such as coal ash and foundry wastes. A waste classification is needed
to dispose this waste in a restricted waste site/landfill (RWS).
• Biodegradable waste -Biodegradable waste is a category of waste
that typically comes from plants or animals and can be broken down
by other living things. Wastes are referred to as non-biodegradable if they cannot be broken
down by other living things. Green garbage, food waste, paper waste, and biodegradable
plastic are all examples of biodegradable waste that are frequently found in municipal solid
waste, also known as BMW (biodegradable municipal waste).
Laws against:
Republic Act no. 9003
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
On January 26, 2001, the President's Office approved RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act. It defines solid waste management as a process in accordance
with the control of waste production, storage, collection,
transfer and transport, processing, and disposal. This was
done in response to the country's looming garbage
problems. These activities should always stay true to the
best principles of the public's health, economics,
engineering, conservation, aesthetics, other environmental
considerations, and public attitudes. This act provides the
necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives,
allocates funds, proclaims certain acts prohibited, and
consist a greater to provide a thorough ecological solid
waste management program. It also demonstrates the
capabilities and benefits of recycling not only in addressing
waste disposal problem as well as other areas.
Causes:
Disposal of solid waste is a widespread problem in both urban and rural areas in many
developed and developing countries. The poorly managed waste is contaminating the
environment, clogging drainage and causing flooding, transmitting diseases, increasing
respiratory problems from burning, harming animals that consume waste unknowingly, and
affecting economic development. Increasing volumes of waste are being generated as the
global population and living standards rise. At present, the poor areas in the cities,
municipalities, and rural locations are under-served and their wastes are not regularly
collected. This is one probable cause for citizens with excessive waste who opt to perform
improper waste disposal through littering in the streets, burning, and open dumping. These
activities can cause pollution and fire that pose danger to people’s health and lives.
Moreover, accumulations of litter in the environment, especially the unnatural. The
chemicals, plastics, and Styrofoam’s can alter ecosystem processes, pose danger to the
community, and can contribute to climate change.
Effects:
Solid waste management is one of the toughest challenges that can be faced by countries. If It is
handled poorly, solid waste management can lead to various problems in health, environment and
socio-economic aspects.
[1]

”Waste generation is heavily linked by literature with urbanisation, economic development, and
population growth. Its increasing rates are believed to be driven by rapid urbanisation, lifestyle
changes, and consumption patterns, resulting inevitably in the rise of greenhouse gases emissions”
(Gamaralalage, Gilby, & Lee 2015; Kaza et al. 2018).

“The recorded figure for the world’s daily waste generation was around 39,422 tonnes in 2015,
but this was expected to double by 2025” (EMB 2015 and World Bank 2012)

If these rates remain unmitigated, these will lead to a multitude of problems involving sludge
intrusion in sinkholes, more shifts in the already shifting climate patterns, and more exposure to our
already disastrous disaster risks.

“The lack of awareness and poor management of MSW management by actors, particularly in
developing nations, has become a serious issue.” (Naveen et al., 2018)

“Although developing countries generate less solid waste than developed ones, mismanaged
solid waste disposal pollutes the environment. Lack of waste management knowledge also
contributes to a variety of environmental problems” (Naveenetal., 2018)

An example of bad practices that cause harm to our home is, Illegal dumpsites, the effects of
which range from water pollution, polluted soil, damage to plants, and scavenging animals which
may lead to increased risks in rabies etc…

A Review on the Impacts of Waste Disposal Sites in the Philippines, done by author Van Ryan
Kristopher R Galarpe from the University of the Philippines, states that

“Overall, most water quality parameters on
studied tube and deep wells were within the standard set
except for coliform and total dissolved solids (TDS).” (Van Ryan Kristopher R Galarpe, March
2017)

This is one of the Numerous effects of poor solid waste management, and yet it affects
everything from, nature, animals, and society.

With most towns using wells the risks of waterborne illness from these illegal landfills are sky
high. Not to mention respiratory disease and risks to children due to waste picking. This leads to our
next effect, Economic issues, strangely enough dumpsites and the slums usually adjacent to these
sites have a form of parasitic bond. The dumpsites would provide money to these scavengers and
so they would scavenge to meet ends meat which would usually be around Php 3,000 –Php 12,000
which was still below the poverty line.
[2]
Recommendations:
We all seem to be conscious about how bad solid waste management occurs in the Philippines.
Some people apparently dump them away wherever they choose. Simply throw them into the
streets, canals, sewers, as well as other areas. However, as much trouble as there is in managing
solid waste, there are various solutions to this problem. Throw your waste in the appropriate bins,
avoid littering, and minimize your consumption of plastics. You can use reusable containers and
bottles, pack an eco-bag with you when you're shopping, and recycle as much as you can. These
are just a handful of the basic possible alternatives to you as a citizen of a country.
Sources:
1)
https://bit.ly/3dwRUyQ
2)
https://bit.ly/3UouKv2
3)
4)
https://bit.ly/3UoCBJ3O/AAG_
https://bit.ly/3S0OjIj
5)
6)
https://bit.ly/3dtWSfu
https://bit.ly/3Lurlqu
7)
8)
https://bit.ly/3DFDHdt
https://bit.ly/2AVxqZQ
9)
https://bit.ly/3BvjtQV