Chapter 2 Waste

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Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This Chapter presents some foreign and local

literatures and studies which the researchers deem relevant with the present study. Such literatures and studies cited paved the way in determining the extent of how far researchers have gone through along the area under investigation.

Related Literature Foreign Literature

Waste Management

According to Schidmit (2012) in his book entitled “Zero Waste Management” cited that the present rubbish includes synthetic materials that keep piling up unlike natural ones that degrade and eventually return to earth. Thus, disposal becomes a problem. Aside from this, garbage is also a health hazard- being a melting pot of all sorts of disease. As today’s throwaway society consumes more and more products, we also generate more and more waste. Much of this waste gets burned in incinerators or buried in landfills, causing a series of environmental problems including water pollution and loss of open space,

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According to Duran (2012) in his book entitled “Waste Management Disposal” cited that waste is a visible face of inefficiency in terms of material utilization. Waste handling is a major concern, especially since improper

waste treatment causes increased environmental

deterioration. The last few decades have seen the emergence of new measures to handle waste effectively, but most of them are not flawless. “Zero waste”, an innovation of the 1990s in waste handling, emphasizes planning for the elimination of waste rather than managing waste.

According to Allen (2012), the Zero Waste

International Alliance, means that zero waste is the designing and managing products and processes to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. The simple technology and methods required to achieve Zero Waste exist in every community around the world.

Zero Waste Management Group (2012), Environmental sustainability and waste management are the most important issues of our time. An important step towards achieving

environmental sustainability and responsible waste

management involves reducing our impact on the environment. It is through the successful implementation of our waste

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management and diversion programs that we commit ourselves to continually satisfy our client's needs. The main principals that are employed by Zero Waste Management Group involve resource preservation and waste reduction. These are the core fundamental components of the 'Zero Waste Philosophy'. This is done by means of recycling all potential waste and reusing those materials in different ways, creating a circular system of use and re-use. Implementing this philosophy, bring solutions to all segments of society. This is demonstrated by our commitment

to work with and provide efficient solutions to

individuals, groups and municipalities.

According to Serbanto (2012) in his book entitled “Waste Management Disposal” said that Zero Waste is a critical stepping-stone to other necessary steps in the efforts to protect health, improve equity and reach sustainability. Zero Waste can be linked to sustainable agriculture, architecture, energy, industrial, economic and community development. Every single person in the world makes waste and as such is part of a non-sustainable society. However, with good political leadership, everyone could be engaged in the necessary shift towards a sustainable society. Good political leadership in this

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matter involves treating citizens as key allies to protect human health and the environment and in making the transition to a sustainable future. Governments need to “govern” rather than attempt to “manage” this change to sustainable resource conservation practices. This includes a significant investment in public outreach and education so that citizens can help communities make the most informed choices.

According to Dantes (2013) cited that the dumping and burning of garbage generated in cities, towns and villages in wetlands and water bodies, have resulted in serious air, soil and water pollution. Zero Waste Management is a new system of managing solid waste, which strives for maximum waste recovery through recycling and reuse, aiming at ‘zero’ waste to be disposed onto dump yards and landfills. All over the world, Zero Waste Management has been accepted (and is being practiced) as the best solution to the problem of waste, for the following reasons. Waste is segregated and resources are recovered through composting of organic waste and recycling of inorganic waste. Compost generated through Zero Waste Management is used to promote organic farming, bringing down the use of chemicals in agriculture. Zero Waste Management helps reduce the rate of

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virgin raw material extraction and resource depletion. Zero Waste Management minimizes waste disposal at dumpsites and reduces pollution of air, ground water and soil that result from dumping.

In the book of Calonzo (2014) entitled “Eco Waste Management” cited that waste disposal directly contributes to climate change with the discharge of GHGs such as methane from dumps and landfills and carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from incinerators. Waste disposal also indirectly drives climate change by depriving the economy of reused, recycled and composted materials. By adopting Zero Waste, we cut greenhouse gas emissions from waste disposal sites as well as from the energy-intensive

extraction, processing and transportation of virgin

materials to replace the buried or burned discards,” Manny Calonzo, Co-Coordinator of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), another member of the Eco Waste Coalition.

In the book of Obrero (2015) entitled “Waste Management” cited that waste management that aims to reduce total amount of waste to zero by redesigning resource-use systems. Rather than maintaining a linear waste system – you throw something away, it ends up in a landfill – zero

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waste initiatives work toward extending current practices of recycling and reuse into a circular waste system. This strategy “maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace.

Knowledge on Waste Management

Ivan (2012) in his book “Zero Waste” cited that zero waste management groups will initiate programs that will raise awareness of recycling and environmental issues that families can implement together. One such method will be the distributions recycling guides with tips on recycling and composting to households, schools and business in local communities. These easy-to-guides will increase awareness about the importance of being environmentally friendly highlight the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling the resources without compromising daily routine.

Smith (2012) in his book “Environmental Management” cited that Environmental education is an essential tool for achieving effective resource management and sustainable development. Environmental education in its broadcast sense encompasses awareness raising, acquiring new perspectives,

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values, knowledge and skills and both the formal and informal process that lead to changed behavior in support of sustainable environment.

James (2013) cited that environmental information has been described as central to the issues of solid waste management and disposal. This study investigated the availability and accessibility of environmental information to the solid waste policy formulators and implementors with regard to the media/channels used for disseminating environmental information to the public. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample and the method produced 205 respondents that consisted of 185 Policy Implementors and 20 Policy Formulators. A total of 147 cases were finally analyzed, which included 16 Policy Formulators (80% of total sample) and 131 Policy Implementors (71% of total sample). Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequency counts. Findings show that the Policy Implementors preferred the use of personal contact as the

channel for disseminating environmental information,

whereas the Policy Formulators relied on the use of posters, radio/TV talks, and professional meetings. Some

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barriers to disseminating information to the public included: lack of access to information sources, lack of standards for acquisition of information, and lack of funds to publish information materials.

Conor (2013) cited that the individual achievement would remain individual had it not been shared with the community. As soon as the use of fire was shared, the scope for its future use and development was widened. Throughout time, other members of the community would discover or come up with new practical application for it, like cooking and production of tools and items. These associate innovations reinforced the initial idea, contributed to its use and were at least as significant as the primary innovation. But the question remaining is what could have prompted all other communities to adopt the use of fire too? One can only speculate, but it may be that fire with all its derivative uses gave communities that used it a competitive

advantage. Better fed, better equipped, as these

communities prospered over time and migrated they simply either spread the knowledge of fire to others or triggered their extinction. Perhaps some neighboring villages even stole fire, in an attempt to even the odds.

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Kate (2012) argued that information collection and storage involve the day-to-day processes of gathering and storing data from organizational programs, partners, and stakeholders. More sensitive information being managed is usually personal information subject to the various state and international privacy laws or information that is proprietary to a corporation or other organization. The various state and international privacy laws Information provisional impact levels are documented in the Personal

Identity and Authentication information type. Such

information will often be assigned a moderate

confidentiality impact level. Where any of the information

to be managed can be expected to have a high

confidentiality, impact level, then the information

management information must be assigned a high

confidentiality impact level. When the data being managed belongs to one of the information types described in this guideline, the confidentiality impact assigned to the system is that of the highest impact information type processed by the system. Depending on the organization and the mission being supported, the sensitivity of the information can range from none (public information) to high.

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Solid Waste Management

The advent of Republic Act 9003 (2000, various local governments have adopted and integrated the law into local laws and ordinances. RA 9003 provided the framework as to the Solid Waste Management Plans in various LGUs in the country. In line with the implementation of the RA 9003, various researches and reports are published regarding the assessment of the implementation of the Republic Act in the local governments. These studies range from the assessment of the local governments in their implementation of the RA 9003, to the challenges and mechanisms of solid waste management in the Philippines.

Richie Grace Lago (2012) of Liceo de Cagayan University studied on the Solid Waste Management system in Bayabas, Cagayan de Oro City. Her study entitled “Solid Waste Management Needs of a Suburban Community” studied the terms of handling, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and disposal of solid waste in the said community. In the abstract of her study, she indicated baranggay officials, barangay workers and baranggay residents as the respondents of the study. She measured on the respondents’ awareness of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management

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Act of 2000 and the initiation of the LGU in the implementation of the said Republic Act. The researcher concluded that the respondents have moderate awareness of the RA 9003 and that this level of awareness led to the low cooperation in the LGUs in terms of the implementation of the Republic Act. She also concluded that this moderate level of awareness “discloses a community interest in adopting the introduced solid waste management system.” Moreover, the assessment of the respondents on the Republic Act 9003 depended on their level of awareness of the Republic Act and the perceived importance of the

Materials Recovery Facility. Lastly, the

researcher concluded that the baranggay should take the lead on the implementation and support of the Republic Act 9003, which will in return affect the receptiveness of the respondents to the said Act.

Francis Paulo M. Quina’s (2011) study on “Wasting Away: The challenges of solid waste management in the Philippines,” a study posted on the UP Forum, tackled on the situation of solid waste management in the country. The researcher presented the current deplorable state of the Philippines in terms of waste, especially on landfills and dumpsites. The researcher talked on the current law

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managing the solid waste management in the country and the urban planning and renewal. The study imparts on the poor urban planning that led to the current solid waste management problem, especially in Manila. The study stated, “to begin with, poor urban planning and its inadequate implementation in Metro Manila have contributed significantly to the solid waste problem.” It also presented the current situation of the LGUs which acknowledges the sector of tourism, thus reducing the impacts of the community on the environment, mainly caused by the wastes generated in the households and industries. The study assessed on the role of the Filipino individuals to the segregation of waste, saying that “most Filipino households don’t even bother to segregate their solid waste. Because of this, there is a pressing need for Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in communities across the country. These facilities process solid waste to recover recyclable and reusable materials, not only greatly reducing the volume of solid waste, but also generating revenue for the LGUs.”

William H. O. Streegan (2013) assessed on the compliance of Bacolod City to the RA 9003. The researcher presented facts on the current situation of Bacolod City,

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including the fact that waste management problems as a major pillar in the flooding of Bacolod City. The researcher also presented the current situation of Baranggay Felisa as the city’s illegal open dump, where a sanitary landfill is proposed to be situated. The researcher assessed Bacolod City into five conclusions. First, “the Bacolod City Government did not comply with the guidelines and deadlines of RA 9003 and

therefore the National Solid Waste Management

Commission.” Second, the City Government failed to address the DENR’s request to establish a sanitary landfill. Third, the City Government did not heed the call to close illegal open dumpsite in Baranggay Felisa. Fourth, that the City Government could be subjected to criminal sanctions as a result of non-compliance to RA 9003. Lastly, the City Government continued to operate the illegal dumpsite in Brgy. Felisa. As a whole, the researcher stated that “it is imperative that the City should be more serious about the implementation of RA 9003 and should fast track its information drive on this law so that the citizenry could become more aware of its provisions. It is equally imperative that the citizenry, either in their homes or in their workplaces should implement proper waste segregation,

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so that the City could comply with its agreement with the DENR.”

Another related study is Jessie Todoc’s “Decentralized Solid Waste Management In The Philippines,” which sought to analyze the framework of Solid Waste Management in the Philippines. The study also aimed to “formulate strategies for its replication in the country and among local government members of the Kitakyushu Initiative Network.” The study tackled on four baranggays and villages in the country, which assessed the compliance of Local Government Units to the Republic Act 9003. It further scrutinized on the budget allotment, disposal facilities, and sanitary landfills of the LGUs.

The book entitled “The Garbage Book: Opportunities for Change” assessed the implementation of the RA 9003 at the baranggay level. It states that, “while the extent of formal recycling through local government initiatives has been limited, informal and private sector recycling is extensive, at all points from waste generation through to final disposal. Scavenging forms a significant element of this activity.” It is found out that an insignificant amount of 10% of waste is only recycled. More so, it assessed that “community-based initiatives involve waste

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segregation at source, recycling, and composting. Programs have been attempted in many barangays throughout Metro Manila—some have succeeded, others have failed for one reason or another. Leadership is the key factor in successful programs. In most cases, the initiative is led by the Barangay Captain or nongovernment organization aligned with the zero waste movement.”

With the signing of RA 9003 into law, a challenge is posed for the local governments to implement the provisions of the republic act into local laws and ordinances. Various local governments have adopted and have implemented the RA 9003 into local ordinances, but the challenge comes with putting right sanctions to the violators of the law. The assessment provided for by the different researchers suggests that despite the presence of local ordinances, there is still much to be done.

Synthesis

The related literature and studies, foreign and local herein discussed are both related in a way that it deals on solid waste management.

The above-cited foreign literatures were cited because of its bearing to the present study because of its

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similarities and dissimilarities. Lago (2012) of Liceo de Cagayan University studied on the Solid Waste Management system in Bayabas, Cagayan de Oro City. Her study entitled “Solid Waste Management Needs of a Suburban Community” studied the terms of handling, storage of waste materials. Though the present study also aims to assess the waste management however, it varied on the setting and locale of the study.