Solid Waste Management:

Basel Convention Definition of Wastes

Wastes are “substances or objects which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of the law”

Disposal means

“any operation which may lead to resource recovery, recycling, reclamation, direct re-use or alternative uses (Annex IVB of the Basel convention)”

Kinds of Wastes

Solid wastes: domestic, commercial and industrial wastes especially common as co-disposal of wastes

Examples: plastics, styrofoam containers, bottles, cans, papers, scrap iron, and other trash

Liquid Wastes: wastes in liquid form

Examples: domestic washings, chemicals, oils, waste water from ponds, manufacturing industries and other sources

Classification of Wastes according to their Properties

Biodegradable waste is a type of waste, typically originating from plant or animal sources, which may be broken down by other living organisms. Waste that cannot be broken down by other living organisms may be called non-biodegradable.

Biodegradable waste can be commonly found in municipal solid waste (sometimes called biodegradable municipal waste, or BMW) as green waste, food waste, paper waste, and biodegradable plastics. Other biodegradable wastes include human waste, manure, sewage, slaughterhouse waste.

Classification of Wastes according to their Effects on Human Health and the Environment

Hazardous wastes

Substances unsafe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically that are shipped, transported to or brought from the country of origin for dumping or disposal in, or in transit through, any part of the territory of the Philippines

Non-hazardous wastes

Substances safe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically that are shipped, transported to or brought from the country of origin for dumping or disposal in, or in transit through, any part of the territory of the Philippines.

Sources of Wastes

Households

Commerce and Industry

Agriculture

Fisheries

Waste Generation by Country(Global Waste Survey Final Report Published by IMO 1995)*

Waste Generation in the Philippines

In Metro Manila:

• It is estimated that 25 million m3 of acid and alkaline liquid waste is disposed of annually from the electronics industry.
• Almost 2,000 m3 of solvents and 22,000 tonnes of heavy metals, infectious wastes, biological sludges, lubricants and intractable wastes are disposed of on land or into water courses.
• 4,000 tonnes of solid wastes are generated daily. Of these, only about 3,400 tonnes are collected and transported to existing sites.

EFFECTS OF WASTES IF NOT PROPERLY MANAGED:

• Affects our health
• Affects our socio-economic conditions
• Affects our coastal and marine environmenT
• Affects our climate

EFFECTS OF WASTES:

• GHGs(GreenHouse Gases) are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities, causing global mean surface air temperature and subsurface ocean temperature to rise.
• Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea levels and change precipitation and other local climate conditions.
• Changing regional climates could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies.
• This could also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems.
• Deserts might expand into existing rangelands, and features of some of our national parks might be permanently altered.
• Some countries are expected to become warmer, although sulfates might limit warming in some areas.
• Scientists are unable to determine which parts of those countries will become wetter or drier, but there is likely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils.
• Whether rainfall increases or decreases cannot be reliably projected for specific areas.

Activities that have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere:

• Buildup of GHGs primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20).
• C02 is released to the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels, wood and wood products, and solid waste.
• CH4 is emitted from the decomposition of organic wastes in landfills, the raising of livestock, and the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil.
• N02 is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. In 1977, the US emitted about one-fifth of total global GHGs.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE:

REDUCE WASTE:

• Reduce office paper waste by implementing a formal policy to duplex all draft reports and by making training manuals and personnel information available electronically.
• Improve product design to use less materials.
• Redesign packaging to eliminate excess material while maintaining strength.
• Work with customers to design and implement a packaging return program.
• Switch to reusable transport containers.
• Purchase products in bulk.

RE-USE:

• Reuse corrugated moving boxes internally.
• Reuse office furniture and supplies, such as interoffice envelopes, file folders, and paper.
• Use durable towels, tablecloths, napkins, dishes, cups, and glasses.
• Use incoming packaging materials for outgoing shipments.
• Encourage employees to reuse office materials rather than purchase new ones.
  

Donate/Exchange:

• old books
• old clothes
• old computers
• excess building materials
• old equipment to local organizaitions

RESIDENTS ARE ORGANIZED INTO SMALL GROUPS TO CARRY OUT THE FOLLOWINGl

1. construction of backyard compost pit
2. construction of storage bins where recyclable and reusable materials are stored by each household
3. construction of storage centers where recyclable and reusable materials collected by the street sweepers are stored prior to selling to junk dealers
4. maintenance of cleanliness in yards and streets
5. greening of their respective areas
6. encourage others to join