Our country is now grappling on the massive volume of
wastes everywhere especially on urban areas. Waste management is important to
practice for us to be safe from diseases and disasters.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino said 48
trucks of garbage had been collected so far from Roxas Boulevard, which went
underwater due to storm surge. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, 2012). Garbages could cause some diseases just like of skin and blood infections resulting from direct contact with waste, and from infected wounds; eye and respiratory infections resulting from exposure to infected dust, especially during landfill operations; different diseases that results from the bites of animals feeding on the waste; and lastly,Intestinal infections that are transmitted by flies feeding on the waste. (http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/solwaste/health.htm#impact)
The Philippines has alarming garbage problems despite the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or the Republic Act (RA) 9003. RA 9003 further calls for the establishment of materials recovery facilities, or ecology centers, in every barangay or cluster of a barangay. To date, only 1,923 ecology centers exist, serving 2,133 barangays of a total 41,975 nationwide. In Quezon City alone, only 52 barangays have established Materials Recovery Facilities out of a total of 142. Recognizing the importance of the environment’s immediate recovery and effects of improper waste management to the Philippines, there is a need for understanding and reformation of attitudes and concern towards the protection of environment. ( http://imagineechoprojectswaste.blogspot.com/)
In General Santos City, a report from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) said the floods affected around 600 families in Barangays Lagao, Baluan and Bula, which were placed under a state of calamity. City Councilor Richard Atendido said the floods worsened due to the still unfinished drainage projects in Barangays Baluan, Buayan and Bula as well as the clogged canals. He said most of the canals were clogged due to the accumulation of garbage that was not disposed properly by local residents.(http://www.mindanews.com/governance/2012/10/29/p120m-for-additional-infra-in-gensan/).
Moreover, City of General Santos agreed to pass the City Ordinance No.12, series of 2008,also known as the “ General Santos City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2008”.The Goals, Provisions and objectives are very much alike with the Republic Act 9003. This was an effort to create awareness among the public on the importance of environmental protection and preservation. The barangay shall be responsible for the collection, segregation, recycling of biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and reusable wastes.(http://spgensantos.ph/2011/10/ordinance-12-series-of-2008/#
Waste disposal is now the main problem being face by the world today. In third world countries, you can really see these problems. This year, the Philippines experienced floods here in there and a lot of people died. If we look closely the main problem being blamed is the improper waste disposal.. Sometimes nature takes its turn on us and that’s what we should be concerned about. Sometimes even in the so called developed countries we can still see some trash scattered. We can also notice some people burning their trash in the backyard and they think it’s the easiest way to get rid of waste but they are totally wrong because they are just making a faster way to destroy the nature.
The Philippines has alarming garbage problems despite the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or the Republic Act (RA) 9003. RA 9003 further calls for the establishment of materials recovery facilities, or ecology centers, in every barangay or cluster of a barangay. To date, only 1,923 ecology centers exist, serving 2,133 barangays of a total 41,975 nationwide. In Quezon City alone, only 52 barangays have established Materials Recovery Facilities out of a total of 142. Recognizing the importance of the environment’s immediate recovery and effects of improper waste management to the Philippines, there is a need for understanding and reformation of attitudes and concern towards the protection of environment. ( http://imagineechoprojectswaste.blogspot.com/)
In General Santos City, a report from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) said the floods affected around 600 families in Barangays Lagao, Baluan and Bula, which were placed under a state of calamity. City Councilor Richard Atendido said the floods worsened due to the still unfinished drainage projects in Barangays Baluan, Buayan and Bula as well as the clogged canals. He said most of the canals were clogged due to the accumulation of garbage that was not disposed properly by local residents.(http://www.mindanews.com/governance/2012/10/29/p120m-for-additional-infra-in-gensan/).
Moreover, City of General Santos agreed to pass the City Ordinance No.12, series of 2008,also known as the “ General Santos City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2008”.The Goals, Provisions and objectives are very much alike with the Republic Act 9003. This was an effort to create awareness among the public on the importance of environmental protection and preservation. The barangay shall be responsible for the collection, segregation, recycling of biodegradable, recyclable, compostable and reusable wastes.(http://spgensantos.ph/2011/10/ordinance-12-series-of-2008/#
Waste disposal is now the main problem being face by the world today. In third world countries, you can really see these problems. This year, the Philippines experienced floods here in there and a lot of people died. If we look closely the main problem being blamed is the improper waste disposal.. Sometimes nature takes its turn on us and that’s what we should be concerned about. Sometimes even in the so called developed countries we can still see some trash scattered. We can also notice some people burning their trash in the backyard and they think it’s the easiest way to get rid of waste but they are totally wrong because they are just making a faster way to destroy the nature.
It is just sad to note that many people, though they know what to do refuse to abide by the rules of waste segregation. With the people behaving this way, pollution will mount and diseases will be very prevalent. And it is fearful to anticipate the truth that years from now, the whole surrounding is already health hazard. It is lamenting that people are having extreme difficulty in separating their trash. - into wet and dry, plastic or cans, left-over foods and paper. When trash is just placed in a plastic bag, regardless of their classification, unpleasant odor might emanate from the plastic garbage container.
We can have the color coding of the trash bins for us to be familiarize with the specific color for each type of waste. With this, we can be a more responsible person on segregating our wastes.
Clear
Clear or white plastic is reserved for recyclable or reusable items. Because of this transparency, you will be able to see the different contents of the plastic bag. What you can put in the clear or white bags are tins, bottles and papers.
Black
This color is particularly assigned to non-biodegradable and non-infectious waste. These are wastes that cannot be decomposed. Examples of non-biodegradable trash are plastic cans, styrofoams and sticks.
Green
This color is reserved for biodegradable wastes. These are the garbage that can easily decompose. Examples are left-over foods, fruits, vegetables, peelings, dried leaves and branches.
Red
This color may be optional since these are rarely found in homes. These are the bio-hazardous or infectious wastes which could really be very harmful to the community. Usually, these are trashes taken from the hospital area. So the contents of the red plastic bags are syringe, cotton, gauze disposable cups, forks, spoons, plastic food bags and human wastes.
Blue
This is another optional color for home trash. Usual content of the blue bag are industrial materials. Actually, this coo of bag is for different industrial materials such as glasses, fabrics, heavy plastics.
To actually segregate your wastes at home, you will only need three plastic bags - clear or white, black and green. It would be very easy to remember, and it would also be easy to inform the children in the house of your desire to waste segregate.
It was once a common practice to burn waste either in your own backyard or at a landfill. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, when household garbage and plastics are burned, they release particulate matter which are solid compounds suspended in air. Being exposed to particulate matter increases heart disease, asthma, emphysema and respiratory disease incident rates. Waste disposal relocates waste to an area where it can be safely left, incinerated or otherwise disposed of. Removing waste from public areas reduces overall health risks, decreases pest infestation in urban areas and lowers exposures to biohazards.(http://www.ehow.com/list_6012773_advantages-waste-disposal.html#ixzz2OVpTy8sW)
The only thing, us, ordinary people can do in order to let the world know the importance of waste disposal is by teaching our own children. In this regard, we are nurturing a child to do what is right while we are also saving the future generations. With this, they could also teach the future generation and would save our Mother Earth from destruction.
More and more local government units are now approving resolutions and ordinances that will promote the protection of our environment and ultimately conserve the natural resources of our planet.
We can have the color coding of the trash bins for us to be familiarize with the specific color for each type of waste. With this, we can be a more responsible person on segregating our wastes.
Clear
Clear or white plastic is reserved for recyclable or reusable items. Because of this transparency, you will be able to see the different contents of the plastic bag. What you can put in the clear or white bags are tins, bottles and papers.
Black
This color is particularly assigned to non-biodegradable and non-infectious waste. These are wastes that cannot be decomposed. Examples of non-biodegradable trash are plastic cans, styrofoams and sticks.
Green
This color is reserved for biodegradable wastes. These are the garbage that can easily decompose. Examples are left-over foods, fruits, vegetables, peelings, dried leaves and branches.
Red
This color may be optional since these are rarely found in homes. These are the bio-hazardous or infectious wastes which could really be very harmful to the community. Usually, these are trashes taken from the hospital area. So the contents of the red plastic bags are syringe, cotton, gauze disposable cups, forks, spoons, plastic food bags and human wastes.
Blue
This is another optional color for home trash. Usual content of the blue bag are industrial materials. Actually, this coo of bag is for different industrial materials such as glasses, fabrics, heavy plastics.
To actually segregate your wastes at home, you will only need three plastic bags - clear or white, black and green. It would be very easy to remember, and it would also be easy to inform the children in the house of your desire to waste segregate.
It was once a common practice to burn waste either in your own backyard or at a landfill. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, when household garbage and plastics are burned, they release particulate matter which are solid compounds suspended in air. Being exposed to particulate matter increases heart disease, asthma, emphysema and respiratory disease incident rates. Waste disposal relocates waste to an area where it can be safely left, incinerated or otherwise disposed of. Removing waste from public areas reduces overall health risks, decreases pest infestation in urban areas and lowers exposures to biohazards.(http://www.ehow.com/list_6012773_advantages-waste-disposal.html#ixzz2OVpTy8sW)
The only thing, us, ordinary people can do in order to let the world know the importance of waste disposal is by teaching our own children. In this regard, we are nurturing a child to do what is right while we are also saving the future generations. With this, they could also teach the future generation and would save our Mother Earth from destruction.
More and more local government units are now approving resolutions and ordinances that will promote the protection of our environment and ultimately conserve the natural resources of our planet.