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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

In the Philippines solid waste disposal is one of the major problems that the county is

encountering. Proper waste management remains a big challenge. The Senate planning economic

office has identified proper waste disposal, inefficient waste collection, and lack of disposal

facilities as major waste management problems that, if not addressed, would lean to serious

health hazards and environmental impacts.

Some countries have succeeded considerable achievement in solid waste management.

But the rest of the world is struggling to deal with its wastes. In these places, improper

management of solid waste continues to impact public health of entire communities and cities;

pollute local water, air and land resources; contribute to climate change and ocean plastic

pollution; and hinder climate change adaptation.

According to Eva Ponfracz (2002), waste management is generally a practical discipline,

searching out solutions to individual waste problems: reactionary solutions. Given that the

everyday problems of waste management are so important to solve, it may even appear so that

theorizing, instead of acting, is a loss of time and/or effort.

Solid waste management is the process of collecting and handling solid wastes. It also

offers solutions for recycling items that do not belong to garbage or trash. As long as people have

been living in settlements and residential areas, garbage or solid waste has been an issue. Waste
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management is all about how solid waste can be changed and used as a valuable resource. Each

and every household including the business owners across the world should embrace solid waste

management.

Singapore City is known for having very strict policies and implementation when it

comes to solid waste management. According to Vincent Teo, chief engineer of the National

Environment Agency, Singapore has set up an integrated solid waste management system in the

past three decades that incorporates recycling, collection and disposal. Singapore is taking a big

leap forward to achieving the ultimate goal of ‘Towards Zero Landfill’.

Meanwhile, Cebu City is currently having problems with the implementation of solid

waste management. The lack of discipline of following the waste management policies and the

budgetary issues of the government are causing difficulties for the City to minimize garbage or

trash found in the surroundings.

The researcher believes that solid waste management plays a very relevant aspect in our

daily lives. It is important to the environment and to the health of the general public to live in a

clean and healthy environment. In order to have a better result of the study, the researcher would

like to look into more studies and strategies in Singapore City, Singapore, to benchmark some

strategies to come up with a more realistic study about solid waste management.
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Statement of the Problem

The primary purpose of this research is to study and compare the current solid waste

management policies and implementations of Singapore City, Singapore and Cebu City,

Philippines. The findings of this study will be the basis for formulating proposals for

improvement in the policies and implementation of solid waste management in Cebu City,

Philippines.

In this connection, the study aimed to answer these following questions:

1. What are the solid waste management policies and implementation in Singapore City,

Singapore?

2. What is the extent of the implementation of Solid Waste Management Practices in Cebu

City?

3. Based on the findings of the study, what proposals may be advanced to improve the

implementation of Cebu City’s Solid Waste Management policies and implementation?

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Significance of the Study

Solid Waste Management alone, together with its programs, policies and implementation,

has a lot of information that need to be shared, programs to be assessed and difficulties to be

discussed to the general public especially to the very basic unit of the society which is playing a

very important role in this context-the barangays. This study is crucial in providing practical

alternatives to execute waste management and practices and to increase awareness for more

sustainable and better approach to solid waste management. This study will also provide data

that will help solid waste managers when conducting long term planning of solid waste activities.

Best policies and practices regarding solid waste management and the lessons learned through

the relative experiences of the city and the current practices of Singapore City, Singapore will be

used as a basis and a standard to Cebu City to increase knowledge and provide better

understanding of this concern and as well as for the implementation of a sound solid waste

management program. Finally, the study is geared towards achieving maximized environmental

and economic benefits.

The findings of the study will significantly benefit the following

The government officials of Cebu City. The proposed study serves as their reference or

guide in developing policies and strategies on how to properly manage solid waste. This will also

give the officials a better understanding of waste management as a whole, which may inspire the

development of ideas and actions. Finally, it will provide ways to strengthen and firmly

implement city ordinances in consonance with the current waste management of the city.
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The National Government. The result can help the national government to properly

execute their duties in ensuring the local governments have the necessary authority and

capacities for effective solid waste management.

The General Public. The proposed study serves to have a deeper understanding about the

importance of solid waste management and will boost awareness regarding the negative impact

of improperly managing solid waste to health and the environment; and in the process imbibe the

principles and develop the habit of environmental consciousness.

The future researchers. This study will serve as the basis of their future studies and will

enhance their knowledge in solid waste management.

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Definition of Terms

Benchmark is something whose quality or quantity is known and which can therefore be used as

a standard with which other things can be compared.

Landfill is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial. It is the oldest form of waste

treatment. Historically, landfills have been the most common method of organized waste

disposal and remain so in many places around the world. Some landfills are also used for waste

management purposes, such as the temporary storage, consolidation and transfer, or processing

of waste material.

Policies are a deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A

policy is a statement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure or protocol. A governance

body within an organization generally adopts policies. Policies can assist in

both subjective and objective decision making.

Solid Waste is any garbage, refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply

treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded materials including solid,

liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material, resulting from industrial, commercial, mining

and agricultural operations, and from community activities

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Solid Waste Management is the process of collecting and treating solid wastes. It also offers

solutions for recycling items that do not belong to garbage or trash. As long as people have been

living in settlements and residential areas, garbage or solid waste has been an issue.
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Chapter 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Method

The researcher used a descriptive method in the comparison of the solid waste

management between Singapore City, Singapore and Cebu City, Philippines. The research study

will cover information about the policies and implementation of solid waste management in both

cities.

Research Environment

The research was conducted in Childlink Learning Center and Childlink High School

Inc., which is located at 530 Zodiacville Englis V. Rama Avenue Cebu City. The researcher also

went to the University of San Jose – Recoletos (USJR) Library to borrowed books and previous

researches to gain more information about Solid Waste Management.

Research Instrument

The researcher used books, old researches, and online sources to get a wider

understanding about Solid Waste Management and its policies and implementation in both

Singapore City, Singapore and Cebu City, Philippines.

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Chapter 3

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Findings

Cebu City promulgated several proactive legislative measures to strengthen the policy

framework in implementing the RA 9003.

3.1.1 Cebu City Ordinance No. 2017

Under the Cebu City Ordinance No. 2017, October 6, 2004, the Solid Waste Management

Board (SWMB) was established under the leadership of the Mayor and including members from

within and outside the city office. The development of the solid waste management plan

(SWMP) was prepared by conducting consultations with the various sectors of the community,

as well as integrates the various solid waste management plans and strategies of the City’s

barangays. The SWMB also mandated to adopt measures to promote and ensure the viability and

effective implementation of the SWMP in its component barangays and forge cooperation with

the private sector and the NGOs. For the effective planning and implementation of the SWM

programs in their respective barangays, the barangay solid waste management committee

(BSWMC) was established in each barangay.

3.1.2 Cebu City Ordinance No. 2031

Cebu City Ordinance 2031, November 10 2004 promotes solid waste segregation at

source with penalties for violations and the creation of the special fund for incentives. Since

April 2011, the city has strictly enforced the segregated waste collection. No Segregation No
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Collection policy was established and started to educate citizens to separate waste at source into

biodegradable, recyclable and residual.

These policies have been implemented in Cebu City but the problem is that the leaders

and even the general public are unable to maintain or follow these policies.

Singapore - where waste production rose six-fold from 1970 to 2000 - has been facing the

challenge of handling waste with limited space. Integrated planning and the goals towards zero

waste and zero landfill are now turning the tide on waste.

Given that the rate of waste disposed by its citizens had risen six-fold between 1970 and

2000, it is no surprise that the nation has set an ambitious target to achieve zero landfill. Indeed,

if this growth in waste were not curtailed, Singapore would need to build a new 3000-tonne/day

incineration plant every five to seven years and a new 350-hectare landfill every 25 years to cope

with the waste.

To address this potential problem, Singapore has set up an integrated solid waste

management system in the past three decades that incorporates recycling, collection and disposal.

Working hand in hand with key stakeholders in the private and government sectors as well as the

general public, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) has formulated a range of

strategies and programs to achieve its objectives for curbing waste growth and supporting

sustainable waste management.

Waste minimization

Starting at the top of the ‘waste hierarchy’, naturally a key objective is to reduce waste

production. In this regard, the main portion of Singapore’s non-combustible waste comes from
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construction waste, stabilized industrial sludge and used copper slag from the marine industries,

residues and ashes.

Over the years, much of these have been diverted for reprocessing. For instance, 94% of

the construction and demolition waste was recycled in 2005. At the same time, the country has

also adopted specific measures to minimize waste generation, such as the careful selection of

design and construction methods that minimize waste production.

By undertaking these measures, Singapore is taking a big leap forward to achieving the

ultimate goal of ‘Towards Zero Landfill’.

Conclusion

In the light of the findings of the study, the researcher concludes that the solid waste

management policies and implementation in Cebu City, Philippines needs improvement,

specifically in the areas of administrative, technical, and social aspect. It was found out that

majority of the waste generators and implementers were not generally compliant to RA 9003

where it states that the policy of state should adapt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological

solid waste management program. There is negligence in terms of implementation of the policies

and ordinances relating to solid waste management.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, the researcher proposes the following sets of

recommendations:
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The officials of Cebu City must consider implementing effective policies and strategies

for the city in order to achieve good results in managing the solid wastes.

The proposed program in this study may also be proposed in other cities. An

environmental livelihood programs which aims to create local economic opportunities and seeks

to minimize waste generation; Training program for residents and all citizens involves in the

livelihood of the city.

Cebu City must also initiate a periodic evaluation of its Solid Waste Management

programs to keep track of the progress and to see if the objectives had been achieved.

The researcher would like to recommend further studies on waste segregation and

recycling practices of major industries and establishments in Cebu City to determine and asses

their solid waste management programs related with the RA 9003 and City Ordinances No 2031

an 1361. The researcher also recommends further study on the topic of waste reduction strategies

and programs in Cebu City to see if it is effective and if an improvement is needed. Lastly, the

researcher recommends proper assessments on the operating conditions of the garbage trucks of

Cebu City to improve efficiency of garbage collections.

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References

Bagchi, A. 2004. Design of Landfills and Integrated Solid Waste Management. Canada: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Conol, M. 2004. Environmental Concerns, Health Related-Issues and Solid Waste Management
Practices of the Zayas Sanitary Landfill, Carmen, Cagayan De Oro City: Basis for Proposal.
Cebu City, Philippines

Desamparado, R. 2012. Solid Waste Management Practices of Selected Barangays in Cebu City:
Basis for Improvement Cebu City, Philippines

Lee, C. 2010. Solid Waste Management in Singapore. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

R. Mam L. 2000. Resources Recovery in Solid Waste Management: Strategies, Initiatives, Policy
Issues. Quezon City, Philippines. University of The Philippines Center for Integrative and
Development Studies

Uriarte, F. Jr. 2008. Solid Waste Management Principles and Practices. Quezon City,
Philippines: The University of the Philippine Press

Yap, H. 2014. Solid Waste Management Practices of Selected Barangays in Mandaue City:
Proposed Intervention Scheme Cebu City, Philippines
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Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

Name: Sephora Abarintos

Address: 17 Zodiac Drive Pleasant Homes Subdivision, Cebu City

Contact Number: +62 927 700 5678

E-mail: sephoraabarintos@yahoo.com

Personal Information

Date of Birth: November 10, 2000

Gender: Female

Education

Elementary School: Harvest Christian School Int. 2006 – 2010; Childlink Learning Center 2010

– 2013

High School: Childlink Learning Center and Childlink High School Inc. 2013 –present

Interests: Doing arts and crafts, playing the piano, and reading books