Managing Solid Waste in the Philippines: The Dirty Business

Written by Iva Maurin | January 23, 2007

Solid waste, over the past thirty years, has remained the most visible, and silently dangerous, environmental problem in the country. In September 1999, not one Filipino was left without a trauma out of the tragedy that befell Payatas in Quezon City. Hundreds died, buried alive underneath filth, as mountains of garbage collapsed due to heavy downpour. This is among the worst human-made disasters that have ever hit the Philippines, a disaster we should never allow to happen again.

Dirty Living

The country’s garbage problem has a lot to do with lifestyle. Every individual must be responsible for the wastes he generates. Considering that we are among the most populated in the world, with the amount of trash each of us produces, it is no surprise that our lands have become the largest dumpsite.

Our streets are lined with garbage, our waters flooded, and our creeks clogged with trash, even our mountains are junk – all these are reflections of the need to heed to the serious call for waste management – it is time for each and every one of us to stop living dirty.

And why? The indiscriminate throwing of garbage contaminates our waters, with clogged drains open for insect breeding which brings about diseases like cholera and dengue, targeting most especially, our children. Floods have become a common sight during rainy seasons. Backyard burning, or simply, burning of garbage, releases toxic air pollutants, which leads to respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, even death. To be direct, dirty living equals death.

Trash Course

The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has identified three key trends in the local garbage situation: 1) increase in sheer volume of generated wastes; 2) change in the quality and make-up of waste generated; and 3) waste handling methods.

Everyday, the country has a per capita waste generation of 0.3 to 0.7 kilograms of garbage. In 2003*, we have generated 27,397 tons of garbage daily, a step backwards compared to the 19,700 tons of garbage we have generated daily in 2000 (*based on the study conducted by the NSWMC-Secretariat and the Metro Manila Solid Waste Management Project of the Asian Development Bank in 2003). That is tantamount to ten million tons of garbage generated in 2003.

Of the ten million tons of generated garbage in 2003, 2.5 million came from Metro Manila. This is a strong evidence of the forecast which indicated that by 2010, in comparison to the 2000 data, waste generation shall have increased by 47%.

In one of the solid waste management workshops facilitated by the Environmental Management Bureau, Ofelia Panganiban of the Ecowaste Coalition teaches community seniors how to create livelihood from "wastes".

Beads made of newspaper presented by Ecowaste Coalition's Ofelia Panganiban.

Ways to Beat Wastes

Lucky for us, the Philippine solid waste composition is generally highly-organic (biodegradable) and recyclable, with 50 percent of the wastes made up of yard, wood, and kitchen wastes.

The high percentage of biodegradables is an indication of the great potential of composting as a means to recover this type of wastes, especially those coming from agricultural zones. Moreover, potentials for recycling are good considering that the remaining wastes are made up of recyclable materials.

The DENR has always been steadfast in its commitment to reduce, and eventually, eradicate the amount of garbage in the country. Projects and programs on solid waste management are consistently being implemented by the Department, through the NSWMC, in coordination with the local government units, non-government organizations, international groups, and other government agencies.

To date, the Commission has initiated the closure and rehabilitation of existing open dumpsites, the establishment of sanitary landfills in municipalities, the establishment of an ecological solid waste management system, the categorized compliance for disposal facilities, and the promotion and development of alternative technologies to process residual wastes.

The DENR, along with the Department of Interior and Local Government and some civil society groups, has also conducted the Nationwide Search for Model Barangays for Eco-Waste Management System, to assist our local communities to comply with, and reward them on their compliance, to Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Waste Recovery Programs are also being instituted by the government. The DENR has forged an agreement with the Recyclean Foundation, Inc (RFI) on a waste paper recovery program. The NSWMC, Tire Importers and Traders Association of the Philippines, Tire Manufacturers of the Philippines, and the Philippine Retreaders Association agreed to facilitate recovery of used tires for the effective management of the waste material which would include their recycling, re-use, and environmentally sound disposal. In terms of plastics and plastic packaging, the Polystyrene Packaging Council of the Philippines coordinated with several malls and industrial parks, to recover polystyrene wastes which resulted to the recovery of about 8,000 cu. m. of said plastics in 2003. An Agreement was made between the council and the Department of Science and Technology to design melting kettles for potential recyclers to convert polystyrene into other form of materials.

To spread environmental awareness, particularly on solid waste management concerns, the DENR, together with the Eco-Waste Coalition signed an agreement for the establishment of the Ecological Solid Waste Pavilion. It is a national center for meetings, congregations, trainings, educational purposes particularly for showcasing effective, innovative and creative SWM procedures, techniques and activities.

The DENR is vigilant in its quest to manage solid wastes in the Philippines. The government is bent on empowering the municipalities to address their own garbage issues. We are all parts which make up a whole in each municipality. Together, let us put a stop to the thirty years of garbage problem we have stumbled upon. We have more than enough.

Start a Junkshop. Garbage is Big Business.

Written by Iva Maurin | June 3, 2008

Garbage may be a dirty business to some, but for the many people (and communities) who have earned from it, it is big business.

The Recyclables’ Collection Event (of the Earthday Network Philippines, the Philippine Business for the Environment, DENR, and many other organizations) has collected over three milion — P3,143,345.00 worth of recyclables (monetary equivalent) to be exact, from garbage.

Three million is a big amount of money, and though the RCE group is in it for advocacy, you too, can do it, and earn. How? Start a junkshop.

Here’s what you might need:

1. A list of recyclers.. or make connections at the Waste Markets in malls

You need to get a list of recyclers since they will be the ones to buy the junk and scraps you would accumulate. Without these buyers, you might end up becoming more like an open dumpsite, rather than a Materials Recovery Facility. You might want to check here for the list. For waste markets schedule, check the mall websites.

Almost all malls now have their own “Waste Market” fairs. SM has a “Trash to Cash” Program which they started in 2007, and which are now held simultaneously in all its malls every first Fridays and Saturdays of the month. Ayala does it every Friday at their mall parking lots.

What the Waste Market Offers (SM Malls)

Trading:

scrap paper and cardboard for bathroomtissue, table napkins, bond paper, notebook
empty ink and toner cartridge for quality remanufactured ones
plastic bottles and plastic scraps for plastic household items like hangers, basins, and pails
used lead batteries (from cars, UPS/ voltage regulators), for chack-up coupons

Buying

used PET bottles (containers of softdrinks and mineral water bottles), aluminum, tin cans, scrap paper, cartons, used ink/toner cartridges, PC monitors, junk electrical appliance, used lead acid batteries (from cars, UPS/voltage regulators, busted rechargeable lamps)

2. A weighing scale

This is probably the most important “gadget” a junkshop operator has, since your income will be dependent on the “kilos” — how much everything weighs. Every kilo has a price depending on the current market value of recyclables. Of course, aside from the calculator where you would compute your earnings.

3. Water/Cleaning Materials

You definitely need to “clean” — scrub and empty bottles and cans, before you store them so your junk shop would not get infested with flies and roaches.

4. An open space

This would be your Materials Recovery Facility where you would have to segregate garbage. If you have no idea on segregation, download this segregation poster guide by the United Nations Development Programme.

5. A simple kariton, an ecobike, or a truck

This is necessary especially if you will be buying waste in bulk. If you are trying to go big time, you would need a truck. This is also necessary if you do not have an open space since you would just have to go from being a junk “shop” to becoming a junk “system” — in the environment sector parlance, this means from operating a “Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)” to implementing a “Materials Recovery System (MRS)”.

With an MRS, you wouldnt be needing an open space. You would just be like a “transporter” of wastes — collecting and weighing segregated wastes from neighborhoods, and then heading to the recyclers to exchange everything you would have collected to cash. By the way, you could also trade your collected garbage for cash at the waste markets.

A group of children looking checking the not-so-clean waters of an estero in Metro Manila.

Not enough opportunity for the Bakal (Steel) Boys

Saving Manila

Written by Iva Maurin | March 3, 2016

Early this week, news came out about the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) teaming up with the Office of the Ombudsman to file charges against barangay officials who would allow waterways to be polluted again after their Estero Blitz clean-up operation.

I would say this must definitely be out of frustration on the part of the MMDA after ‘possibly’ realizing that clean-up drives are futile when communities do not have the will — and the local governments too, do not really have the political will, to put into effect policies that should have been implemented over a decade ago.

Indeed, it is absolutely frustrating to remove tons and tons of wastes along Metro Manila waterways, only to see the same area flooded with garbage again just after a few days. I know because I used to be part of a similar project where we did clean-ups, educated communities, taught proper solid waste management, and even provided livelihood opportunities. Sadly, the problem has become so gargantuan that any effort comes off as ineffective.

Are We Really Ineffective?

The answer is NO.

As far as legislation is concerned, we are not ineffective. The Philippines has the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003) in place, which mandates the creation of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (who reportedly filed the case against the erring officials) and Solid Waste Management Boards in every province, city and municipality; the mandatory segregation of solid wastes; the systematic collection and transport of wastes; the establishment of Materials Recovery Facilities; prohibition against the use of open dumps; and the provision of incentives, rewards, and financial assistance, among others.

Implementation-wise, we still have a long way to go. I believe, however, that we are there walking along the road. There are local governments that are dead-serious in their solid waste management programs. Segregation is in place, especially in schools. There are dedicated MRFs in barangays or clusters of it. Water bodies are loved and respected. Information drives are on point. Metro Manila is admittedly a different case though – and maybe, it has a lot to do with it being densely-populated and too commercial.

Manila is so bright, it attracts too many people. While this is not entirely bad, there is a heavier responsibility attached to managing a mega-city. Where there are people, there would be garbage – and Manila has a lot of people, so there lies the crisis.

There is not enough land in Manila to house all of its population. Manila has become commercialized – too many malls, too many infrastructure in so little area. The required perimeter space needed between waterways and houses are sacrificed and disrespected, to the point of being “reclaimed”. With limited land, the cost of living (which primarily includes housing) increases, and people who cannot afford to pay rent end up building shanties along the creeks, sidewalks, and even under bridges. These people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities, so they end up using creeks as areas for sanitation. It’s easy to spot garbage under almost every estero shanty in Manila. The wastes coming from these illegal structures, including those that get block, form the bulk of the garbage problem in the city. If only there would be enough opportunities in places outside Metro Manila for people to earn and live decently, no doubt, most would move. The city would then be depopulated, there would be balance in the country, and every one’s needs would and could be provided.

Is there hope?

Of course. While depopulating Manila seems extremely idealistic and far-fetched, the government has actually been doing something about it. In an Inquirer.net article, then Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said that “the flood management master plan (of the Department of Public Works and Highways) will not work if informal settler families will not be removed from the waterways. The plan is to move 20,000 families in 12 months from the 3-meter easement abutting the waterways. By the end of Aquino’s term in 2016, all those choking the waterways will be gone”. Hopefully, this is being met.

There is also the public-private partnership called the “Adopt-an-Estero Program” which encourages the private sector, national and local governments and the civil society to join forces and together, undertake expanded environmental improvement of water bodies, conduct information and education campaigns, community mobilization activities, and trainings for concerned stakeholders.

Back in 2011, Metro Manila mayors also forged an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure the establishment of an ecological solid waste management program at the household level, particularly in condominiums and subdivisions.

Now, we have inspiring young Filipinos in the likes of Amin Hataman who won awards for having invented biodegradable plastic bags from coconuts, and of Kyle Mabasa who is among the many members of the Youth for Environment in School Organizations all over the country.

All these, among all the other initiatives by schools, offices, private organizations, and non-government organizations, are what Metro Manila has been doing to solve its garbage crisis.

What Now?

Well, we need to keep doing what we are doing — and more. Solid waste management is more than physical, it is behavioral. Filipinos are very “chill” by nature. We have mastered mañana habit to a destructive fault. We always say, “I’ll do it tomorrow”, but say the same when ‘tomorrow’ comes — and this translates to us not tackling our garbage problem head-on, even after disaster strikes. To most, disasters are not deadlines after all (perhaps, just reminders of the deadline). We also have this “out of sight, out of mind” attitude. What we can’t see won’t hurt us, so we don’t really have a problem with it. Don’t we really?

I feel that an easy solution would be to increase the number of segregation bins – one for recyclables, another for residuals, for visibility and convenience. The Solid Waste Management Boards should make sure that every home, or building, should have an appropriate number of garbage of bins – the same in public spaces, so people would know where to throw their garbage. The bins themselves would make great information tools – people will know that there’s a proper place for their garbage. The recyclers (the barangay, or junkshop operators in the area) could pick up the bins for recyclables, and the city government could get the residuals. Income will be generated from recyclables, and the city would be clean.

As for the esteros and creeks, dredging is really needed. About four years ago, when we were doing surveys, barangay officials would tell us that they, too, want the creeks cleaned. They want the creeks dredged because apparently, the waterways have not been dredged since the time of the Marcoses, and given how long ago that was, so much garbage and silt have already accumulated through the decades, causing the esteros to be shallow. They also wanted “trash traps” so each barangay would have an accountability as to where the crazy amount of garbage along and in esteros come from. They are in dire need for help too, from the national government and the public, because their barangays are also their home.

Lastly, I hope our politicians – especially those who are now aspiring for positions – would have the environment as, if not the top, a major action agenda. Economic growth is important, but it is not the most important – environment is. I remember Jack Ma’s words when he was interviewed by US President Obama during the APEC CEO Summit 2015 in the Philippines. He said, “If we do not care about the earth, if we do not care about water, food, environment; nobody can survive, whether you’re big or small”. I am pretty positive Jack Ma knows money, business, and economy too well – but he knows that environment is and should be number one.

In all honesty, I feel that we all have the best intention for our beloved Philippines. So, let’s work together now, before we all end up in the dumps. Manila is the window of the country – it is the city most tourists get to first step on when they visit. We are a country known for natural beauty, let us keep it at that.

Salute to all environmentalists - workers and volunteers who take time to love, care for, and fix what needs to be fixed in our only Earth .

Filipino Environmentalists We Should All Be Proud Of

Written by Iva Maurin | October 7, 2015

The Philippines ranks third highest in the list of countries with mismanaged waste.

On an article by John H. Tibbetts, Managing Marine Plastic Pollution: Policy Initiatives to Address Wayward Waste, published on Environmental Health Perspectives, he shared this: "The United States makes a significant contribution to marine plastic pollution, but it’s only twentieth on the list of coastal nations that produce the most plastic waste from land. The top spots are filled by a number of rapidly developing countries with expanding populations near coastlines and poor systems of waste management, including China, Indonesia, and the Philippines."

Tibbetts got this from Plastic Waste Inputs from Land into the Ocean, a scientific study by Jambeck JR, et al.

GMA News reported this, naturally, and even shared it on their social network account.

While the news itself could be considered shocking, what struck us more is the “unpopularity” of this type of news among Filipinos. I say unpopular because 15 hours after posting, only 110 people have shared the post (direct contrast to thousand shares when it’s entertainment news).

This is unusual for a country obsessed with sharing almost everything on facebook – and sad because this is the type of story that we need to actually share and care for.

Perhaps, it has a lot to do with it being absolutely embarrassing for the country to rank third on a global list – and not in a “Proud to be Pinoy” way, as one of the commenters sarcastically posted.

But you know what, there are a few reasons why, despite being negatively on top of this garbage list, we can still be proud.

1. This old man who cleans the creek.

This old man “sacrifices” his very own health (no boots, no gloves) to pick up garbage floating on the creek. They say there is wisdom as one grows older, and maybe, Manong here knows that there’s more value in investing time cleaning up the creeks so his great grandchildren would eventually be able to swim and fish the way he did when he was younger (or he could be single and perhaps, he is cleaning the creek for your children). We do not know him but, Manong, you deserve a shoutout.

2. These young men who also clean the creek.

Even while they are on the boat, these manongs (without boots and gloves too, astig pinoy thug life!) have also chosen to remove the shocking amount of garbage behind the outpost in Palico Creek, instead of just “hanging out”. They spent hours removing these wastes to make sure that water would flow smoothly from the creek to the Laguna Lake. In so doing, they have helped prevent any future flooding in the area, and so saving their neighbors’ lives and properties.

3. This Barangay Leader who teaches vermi-composting.

Barangay leader Nanay Myrna of Talipapa, Quezon City shares her vermi-composting experience with the other residents in their community. I remember the first time we met Nanay Myrna during a barangay session, she shared how devastated they were after Ondoy, recognized it was partly their fault (throwing garbage on the river nearby), and that it was a great wake up call for them to be dead-serious on proper waste management. Now, they are really segregating (and maintaining mini-gardens too)!

4. This young boy demonstrating proper garbage segregation.

This smart boy shows how proper segregation is done in one of our solid waste management demo sessions in their barangay, for the Save the Tullahan River project. He gladly volunteered to show his neighbors he can segregate, as all of them actually claimed that they do. They have their own mini-Materials Recovery Facility in their barangay too — and they really know the value of recyclables.

5. This Woman Environment Advocate for life (and the many others like her from all sectors).

Ofelia Panganiban of the Ecowaste Coalition facilitated the livelihood seminar for senior citizens during one of our solid waste management barangay sessions. She is among the many other environmental advocates in the country, who have dedicated their lives training, molding, and inspiring people to love and do more for the environment.

These are initiatives – by the government, the NGOs, the academe, business, civil society – without which, we would even have been at the very top of the list. We are not “not effective”. We just need to care more, share more, do more.

So you see, despite the report on the country being the third in terms of garbage mismanagement, we can be proud that there are many hardworking Filipinos who have been doing the right thing all these years, trying to make the country cleaner, safer, and better for all — even if it seems almost impossible. We recognize that there is a problem, but let us also highlight that we are collectively acting to resolve this. There is hope. In an ocean of garbage, it is inspiring to see fishes not giving up, and still swimming.

Be proud because even Ocean Conservancy itself reports of a city (coastal community) in the Philippines “setting an example for the world”, in terms of solid waste management.

Plus, you know what? You can help too — and that, on its own, will make you even more proud to be Pinoy.

Hopefully, this post is worth sharing.

Let’s all help each other.

comments

Jose Jebie Barrios

I want to start a Junk Shop and a Junk Art at the same time.It was really my passion to create artworks and at the same time have business.I can invest initially P150,000.I dont know how to start? Should I need a partner? I want the junkshop to be versatile,with welding machine etc., shop at the same time. I would appreciate it if somebody who have a passion like mine will help.I am gifted in concept but a poor implementor. Thanks—

Gilbert

It seems a viable business, My family have some vacant space where I can temporarily put the junk I will collect…the capital seems reasonable and not that expensive…

JHENN TAKINAN

What we do to our environment is what the environment do to us. It is inevitable that we depend much to our environment. If we do not take care of it then life will not be worth sustainable.

If you had been bad to the environment then change for the world! Handle your garbage with a matured mind!

Hannah Victoria Loresca

This is a great blog! In our school, there is this big (as in BIG like 10 students could fit in) “cage” where we put all our empty bottles. I think our school sells the empty bottles every week to a particular junk shop. Also, we do a program every September of the year. This program is all about making recycled materials into a beautiful dress which, in every sections, there is a representative that will wear it. I think, the aim of this program is to make us, the students, realize that not all garbage are garbage. They can still be useful just like what’s all about in this blog! As a student, I appreciate your encouragement in saving our environment from destruction and make our world a better home.

Abet

hi! It’s good to know may ganitong website. Just like to inform you that our shop here in Cebu (TSL Enterprises) have been a part of SM’s Cebu’s Waste Market Fair since it started last year. Now, it’s already on its 2nd year and renamed “Waste to Cash”.

Actually, I’m previously connected sa isang NGO and we started our junk shop business because of the Ecological Solid Waste Management law na pinag aralan namin sa NGO. It’s really true that there is money in waste/junk.

Hope marami pa ang mag recycle ng kanilang waste.

Alyssa Marie Mozon

After few hours of finding a perfect site for my project. I’ve finally found the perfect one! The main focus of this website is to know the importance of the environment into our lives. If we know how to reuse and recycle those trashes we can find the perfect way to dispose it properly and save the mother earth . Like for example, I am a grade 10 student and in our house, we collect the things that can be use again and store them into a box, and segregate the things that cannot be use again. Learn how to use these things properly and learn how to reuse and recycle them right away. We can also sell them into a junkshop and earn a money right away! So we dispose these trashes ans at the same time we also earn money! We can help the lives of the people and help them to find the job and we can also save the environment!

Home | About Us | Our Island Life | Travel Stories | Nature Articles

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse