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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Background of the Study

Zero Waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life

cycles so that all products are reused. In industry, this process involves creating

commodities out of traditional waste product, especially making old outputs and

new inputs for similar or different industrial sectors. It can represent an economical

alternative to waste systems, where new resources are continually required to

replenish wasted row materials, (www.wikipedia.com).

Recycling has become a national habit, a daily ritual practiced by over 100

million people every day. Yet recycling alone will not end our dependency on

landfills and incinerators, nor reverse the rapid depletion of our natural resources.

As world population and consumption continue to rise, it is clear that our one-way

system of extracting virgin resources to make packaging and products that will

later be buried or burned is not sustainable. Zero Waste is a new way of looking at

our waste stream. Instead of seeing used materials as garbage in need of

disposal, discards are seen as valuable resources. A pile of "trash" represents

jobs, financial opportunity, and raw material for new products. Other countries

around the world and some U.S. communities have begun to evaluate and

redesign their current systems to encourage resource recovery and to create a

more materials-efficient economy. American companies who do business overseas

are already redesigning their products and manufacturing processes to meet the
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Zero Waste standards adopted by other countries. If they can do it there, they can

do it here, (http://www.ecocycle.org/ZeroWaste/index.cfm).

Spectrum Blue Steel Corporation announced the launch of the Blueprint for

Zero Waste Philippines. Under the Arroyo administration, the Philippines have

seen soaring energy costs. The government has committed to moving to

renewable energy under the Medium Term Development Plan for the Philippines.

Spectrum Blue Steel has an exclusive license from the Global Environment Energy

Corporation to use the biosphere process in the Philippines, ( HYPERLINK

"http://www.matternetwork.com/2008/8/philippines-move-toward-zero-waste.cfm"

www.matternetwork.com/2008/8/philippines-move-toward-zero-waste.cfm)

In Tagum City, after three years of implementation of the Solid Waste

Management Program, the City Government’s spending for garbage collection is

now P3 million less than its P17 million annual budget. At least seven of nine urban

barangays are now earning from recyclable waste materials. Under the R.A. 9003

or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, every barangay or cluster

of barangays is mandated to put up its own material recovery facility (MRF). MRF

is where waste segregation, recycling, composting of biodegradable waste and

storing of recyclable materials are supposed to be made. In 2006, the City Council

of Tagum passed Ordinance No.229”establishing the comprehensive Solid Waste

Management of the City of Tagum”. Under the Ordinance, a Solid Waste

Management board was created, composing the City Mayor, city councilors, non-

government organization representative, barangay federation president,

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manufacturing representative and recycling industry representative, (Pantaleon A.,

2008).

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the extent of Zero-Waste Management

implementation in St. Mary’s College as perceived by nursing student.

Specifically, these answers the following questions:

1. What is the extent of Zero-Waste Management implementation in St.

Mary’s College in terms of:

1.1 Information Dissemination

1.2 Processing/ Implementation of the Project

1.3 Policy and Enforcement?

2. Is there a significant difference on the extent of Zero-Waste Management

implementation in St. Mary’s College when analyzed according to year

level?

3. Is there a significant difference on the extent of Zero-Waste Management

implementation in St. Mary’s College when analyzed according to gender?

Hypotheses
There is no significant difference on the extent of Zero-Waste Management
implementation in St. Mary’s College when analyzed according to year level.
There is no significant difference on the extent of Zero-Waste Management
implementation in St. Mary’s College when analyzed according to gender.

Review of Related Literature

This present furthers information that is relevant to the present study. These are
facts taken from books, journals, internet, and different authorities that will
strengthen the validity of results.
4

Zero Waste Management. According to the study conducted by James Lactao

(2008), unlike the garbage of long ago, our 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,
Sheehan (2000), According to the latest concepts, 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 Carolyn Allen (2006), 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 (2008), 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 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.
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 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. ( HYPERLINK
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"http://www.zwia.org/main/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=58"
http://www.zwia.org/main/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=58).
Over the last few decades, the dumping and burning of garbage generated in
cities, towns and villages in wetlands and waterbodies, 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 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. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.exnoragreencross-
vellore.org/zero.html" http://www.exnoragreencross-vellore.org/zero.html).
Information Dissemination. As education begins in the home, 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, (http:/zerowastemg.com/communityinvolvement.ph/)
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,
values, knowledgement and skills and both the formal and informal process that
lead to changed behavior in support of sustainable environment,
(http//www.crra.com/zerowaste/links/education.htm).
Processing/ Implementation of the Project. It typically describes the act of
taking something through an established and usually routine set of procedures to
convert it from one form to another, as a manufacturing or administrative
procedure ( HYPERLINK "http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process(science)"
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process(science); Retrieved, 2010) The barangay is
responsible for the segregation of waste at source, collection of biodegradable and
recyclable components and setting up of a materials recovery facility (MRF). There
are about 976 MRFs nationwide. The municipality or city governments are
responsible for the collection and disposal of residual nonbiodegradable and
hazardous waste, except in HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?
title=Metro_Manila" \o "Metro Manila" Metro Manila where disposal is within the
mandate of the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?
title=Metro_Manila_Development_Authority" \o "Metro Manila Development
6

Authority" Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). ( HYPERLINK

"http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?
title=National_Solid_Waste_Management_Commission"
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?
title=National_Solid_Waste_Management_Commission)
Policy and Enforcement. Enforcement as a motivating factor should not be
overlooked. Behavior studies have shown that monetary incentives, both positive
(rewards) and negative (fines) are effective motivators, especially if combined with
other motivating factors, such as education (De Young, 1985-6). Furthermore,
enforcement of requirements for adequate recycling collection and storage areas in
multi-family buildings can actually eliminate barriers to participation. Indeed it is in
the City’s interest to use all of the tools available to encourage and enable
residents to recycle, reuse and compost properly. Only by doing so can we ensure
the success of a zero waste program. However, we should not overlook the fact
that enforcement fines can be a valuable revenue enhancement tool that can help
to finance a zero waste program. ( HYPERLINK
"http://www.consumersunion.org/other/zero-waste/enforcement.html"
http://www.consumersunion.org/other/zero-waste/enforcement.html)

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

This study is anchored on the theory of Florence Nightingale Environmental Theory
on which she linked health with five environmental factors: pure or fresh air, pure
water, efficient drainage, cleanliness and light specially direct sunlight, (Kozier and
Erb’s, 2008)

Zero Waste Implementation

Information Dissemination
Processing/ Implementation of
the Project
Policy and Enforcement

Year Level
Gender
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Figure 1. Conceptual Paradigm of the study

Significance of the Study

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of implementation of zero waste
management to the student nurses at St. Mary’s College. Moreover the result of this study
will inspire the following:

Students. The data of this study will provide students’ awareness of their responsibility to
the said project which is zero waste management.
Teachers. The outcome will help the school teachers to promote the zero waste
management implementation towards the students, specifically the student nurses.
School Administrators. The result of the study can provide information and
feedback to the administrators for them to know if the zero waste management is
effective or been improved.

Definition of Terms
For easy understanding, the major term used in this study is defined conceptually
and operationally.

Zero Waste Management. Is literally the process of managing waste materials

(normally those produced as a result of human activities). It involves the collection,
transport, processing and/or disposal of waste materials ( HYPERLINK
"http://www.wordiq.com/waste_management; Retreived,2010"
www.wordiq.com/waste_management; Retreived,2010). In this study it refers to
the schools imperative method in the use of strategies to creating a garbage-free
campus, with the participation of every individual in the school whore responsible
for generating their own wastes. This includes proper segregation/disposal of
garbage and enforcing disciplinary actions against those who violates.

Information Dissemination. This is the process of distribution or spreading of

information to the people or to the public to educate them about a specific issues,
events, or facts ( HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information; retrieved, 2010 ). In this study, it refers to
the massive and continuous information and education to all department and
offices, and all waste generators in which they are encouraged to practice
reduction, reuse, and recycling of waster generated at source as an effective
minimization technique. In the conduct of information education campaign, waste
generators will be educated on the proper method of composting as an
environment friendly way of disposing waste.

Processing/Implementation of the project. This is the realization of an

application, or execution of a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plan" \o
"Plan" plan, idea, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_modelling" \o
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"Scientific modelling" model, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design" \o

"Design" design, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specification" \o
"Specification" specification, HYPERLINK
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standardization" \o "Standardization" standard,
HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm" \o "Algorithm" algorithm, or
HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy" \o "Policy" policy.( HYPERLINK
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implementation"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implementation). In this study this refers to the
establishment of MRF for recycling and composting of garbage materials. This also
refers on establishing marketing linkages with potential buyers for recyclables.
MRF consists of; Botanical and Ecological Garden, where in organic vegetables
garden shall be planted with high value crops, it shall be established in vacant
space after Marian Hotel; Warehouse, the existing carpentry shop can be
constructed into a MRF with roof out of existing recyclable construction materials;
shedder (for garden and kitchen wastes), the shedder can produce humus or
fertilizer which can be sold by sack or use in botanical and ecological garden as
fertilizer.

Policy and Enforcement. A policy is typically described as a deliberate plan of

action to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome(s). The term is not normally
used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either
procedure or protocol. Where as a policy will contain the 'what and the why'
procedures or protocols contain the 'what' the 'how' the 'where' and the 'when'.
Enforcement is a term that refers to the process by which HYPERLINK
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislation" \o "Legislation" legislation, or part of
legislation, and HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty" \o "Treaty"
treaties comes to have HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal" \o "Legal"
legal force and effect. The term is closely related to the HYPERLINK
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_date" \o "Calendar date" date of this
transition ( HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy; retrieved; 2010). In this study it refers to the
policies and implementation of disciplinary actions or sanctions to facilitate
obedience of all waste generators. in this study, The DSA and Discipline
Coordinators with the help of the SCEB, SEC, GAB officers including
administrators, teaching and non-teaching personnel have the moral duty to help
by listing down names of the violators, ID’s can also be confiscated if necessary.
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Chapter 2
METHODS

Presented in this chapter are the research design, the subject and
respondents, the instrument, the data gathering procedure, and the statistical
treatment of the data.

Research design
A Descriptive-study Method of research was employed in this study. It is a method
that tries to reveal patterns associated with specific phenomena without an
emphasis or pre-specified hypothesis. Sometimes these studies are called
hypothesis generating studies (to contrast them with hypothesis testing study),
( HYPERLINK "http://www.children.mercy.org./stats/definition/descriptive.htm:
retreived, 2010" www.children.mercy.org./stats/definition/descriptive.htm: retreived,
2010)
This design was adopted since the main problem of the study is to determine the
extent of zero waste management implementation in St. Mary’s College as
perceived by the Nursing Students.

Research Subject
The respondent of this study were the different level of Nursing students
enrolled in the school year 2009-2010 St. Mary’s College Tagum City.
They were chosen on the basis of stratified random sampling. This sampling
technique was used in order to get the exact representation of respondents of this
study.
Using the Slovin’s Formula, a sample of 223 student-respondents were
taken. The sample size of the population and the distribution of respondents by
gender and section using stratified random sampling.
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Table 1
Distribution of Student-Respondents
Year LevelPOPULATIONSAMPLEGenderTOTALGenderTOTAL
Male
Female
Male
Female
Ist
224769102030
2nd
13496262127
3rd
55127182245680
4th
53142195236386
TOTAL
14336550863160223
Research Instrument
The instrument used in this study was the researcher made a
questionnaire using a Likert scale. The questionnaire was used to assess the
effectiveness of the implementation of Zero-waste management among the nursing
students in St. Mary’s College. The statements of sentences were made simple,
brief, and concrete to provide the respondent’s basic understanding about the
purpose of the study.
The five scale scoring has the following qualitative description:

Scale Descriptive Eq. Description

5 Very extensive This means that the Zero Waste
Management implemented in St. Mary’s College was very much evident or always
observed.
4 Extensive This means that the Zero Waste
Management implemented in St. Mary’s College was most often evident or
observed.
3 Moderately extensive This means that the zero waste
Management implemented in St. Mary’s
College was very much relatively evident
in most cases.

2 Less extensive This means that the Zero Waste

Management implemented in St. Mary’s College was acknowledged to be present
but only slightly felt.
1 Not extensive This means that the Zero Waste
Management implemented in St. Mary’s
College was almost non-evident.
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Data Gathering Procedure

The following steps will be observed in the gathering of data:
Seek Permission to conduct the Study. The researcher will send a letter to the
present school administrator, asking permission to allow the researchers to
conduct the study at St. Mary’s College, Tagum City.

Administration and Retrieval of Questionnaire. The researcher will personally

distribute and administer the questionnaire. They will be instructed no to leave any
item unanswered. The students will also be given enough time to answer all the
items. And after answering the researcher will retrieve the questionnaire
immediately.

Checking, Collating and Processing of Data. The researcher will gathered all
the questionnaires were checked thoroughly if all items were answered and
collated of score followed. It was checked, collated and processed appropriate
statistical tools.
Statistical Treatment
To answer the questions proposed in this study, the data were subjected to
statistical treatment. The following statistical operations were used:
Average Weighted Mean. It is a method used by multiplying each of the scores by
the corresponding frequency. This was used to determine the extent of the
implementation of Zero Waste Management among Nursing Student in St. Mary’s
College. This answered question 1.
Mean. It is the average of the set of data used to determine the extent of the
implementation of Zero Waste Management among Nursing Students in St. Mary’s
College. This answered question 1.

Z- test. It is a statistical tool used in comparing the difference between two means.
This was used to test the significant difference on the extent of the implementation
of Zero Waste Management implementation in St. Mary’s College. This answered
questions 2, 3, and 4.