APFED Good Practices Database

Community-based Solid Waste Management in Paraaque City, Philippines

Summary of the Practice Keywords: Resource recovery, public participation, community-based Solid Waste Management (SWM) Country: Philippines Province: Metro Manila, Philippines Area: Barangay Paraaque City (Barangay is a local community that is composed of about 1000 Philippine households.) Sectoral Issues: Waste Management, Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation, Urban Environment Cross-Sectoral Issues: Environmental Information Implementation Level: Local level Duration: 1998 to present Sponsors: Initially, barangay funds were used to finance the project. Assistance from other agencies came during the latter part of its implementation. Actors Involved: Local Government, Non-governmental organisations, Community

Description of the Practice Background: Paraaque City generated a total of 254.0 tons of solid waste in 1999 or a per capita waste generation of 0.55kg/day. As early as 1990, the city (then still a municipality) issued an ordinance (Ordinance No.90, series 0f 1990) regulating garbage disposal within the municipality and providing a penalty for noncompliance. The Ordinance was limited to regulating illegal dumping of waste in public places, including the seashore or shoreline, requiring the used of appropriate garbage container, and putting the containers out for collection at the scheduled time. On waste segregation, the city is governed by existing ordinances of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which promote waste segregation. Paraaque City and the whole of Metro Manila have been experiencing a rapid rise in waste generation as a result of the high urban growth and increasing economic development. The rise in waste generation causes problems on waste disposal.

Objectives: The community-based ecological waste management program aims to alleviate the garbage problem, protect public health, and conserve resources.

Outline of Practices/Actions: The basic philosophy of the ecological waste management program, conceptualized in 1996 and started for implementation in 1998, is contained in three principles- Segregation at Source, Segregation Collection, and Segregation Destination. Briefly, the program involves the practice of waste segregation by households and no segregation-no collection rule by the local government. The segregated waste types end up in different destinations: (a) biodegradable waste is composted at composting centers to produce organic fertilizer that is sold to farmers, parks and golf operators, and the Department of Agriculture, (b) non-biodegradable recyclables are collected separately, deposited at the redemption centers, and sold to junkshops and recycling factories; and (c) all others are collected by the city garbage trucks and brought to authorized landfills. In one of the subdivisions in the project site, waste is collected by biomen using three-wheeled pushcarts. Collection of biodegradable waste is done twice a day while recyclable waste is collected based on a schedule by type of materials (i.e., paper on Monday, glass on Tuesdays, and so on). Waste composting is done at the Eco-Center that is located within the subdivision and the composts are then sold to the Barangay. The recyclables can be stored at the center and sold directly to junkshops. The compost produced is highly saleable, and passed the Germany ISO 9000 standards. The Barangay entered into a joint venture with Maragondon, Cavite for the use of the compost for the cultivation of vegetables in a 2,000 square meter plot in Maragondon in 2001. Another user/buyer of compost from the Barangay is an Angeles-based restaurateur who produces his own vegetables. Vermi-culture is a livelihood project run and managed by the Barangay utilizing the compost. Imported worms are used to produce high value fertilizer. Results/Impacts The positive impacts of the CBSWM practices are: a) Development of positive attitudes and habits of the residents on and related to waste management; b) Barangay revenue generation and income opportunities for the poor; c) Promotion of livelihood, such as, handicraft-making, vegetable ornamental gardening, and vermin-culture; d) Prompt and improved waste collection efficiency, servicing even the less accessible households in the community; e) Reduced volume of solid waste disposed off to dumpsites; and f) Improved community awareness and social relationships. The potential negative impacts of a CBSWM program include: a) emission of bad odor and b) presence of disease-carrying insects for mismanaged MRFs. In this project the negative impacts are avoided by close management. Critical Instruments

Awareness The change in the behavior of the residents of the Barangay was brought about by an intensive information, education and communication campaign conducted by the local government unit.

Economic instrument(Others) Basic redemption of factory returnables and sale of composts produce modest financial returns, which can make a materials recovery facility sustainable. Valueadded livelihood projects (e.g., paper and plastic crafts) likewise provide financial returns to the local government unit. Regulations The enactment of the Philippines Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provided the legal framework that mandates all local government units to implement systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management programs. Partnerships Collaborative agreements between the Barangay residents, officials, a non-governmental organization (Mother Earth Foundation) and a national government agency (Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through its Environmental Management Bureau and the National Solid Waste Management Commission) contributed to the achievement of the objectives of the project.

Lessons Learned Leadership is one of the key factors in successfully initiating a community-based ecological solid waste management program. The barangays local government plays a major role in the management of solid waste at the local level. Public awareness is also crucial. A well-informed community leads to active participation in and support to the program. Applicability

As experienced in this program, successful adoption of CBSWM practices and sustained operation of MRF/s in a local community depend on a number of interrelated factors, namely: a) b) c) d) e) f) Firm and environmentally-committed leadership in the barangay; Personalized information drive in the barangay; Technical assistance from experienced trainers and organizers; Consistent system of giving incentives to adopters and meting punishment to violators; Support from influential institutions in the community; and Availability of land on which to establish the MRF.

Information date March 10, 2004

References

Asian Development Bank, 2003. Metro Manila Solid Waste Management Project - Final Report on Assessment of Community Based Recycling. Guevarra, R. 2003. Economic Advantage of Doing It Right. Bennagen, Ma. Eugene C. et.al. June 2002. Solid Waste Segregation and Recycling in Metro Manila: Household Attitudes and Behaviors.

Contact Albert A. Magalang Executive Director Office of the Secretariat National Solid Waste Management Commission 2nd flr. HRD Bldg. DENR cpd. Visayas Ave. Quezon City Roberto B. Guevarra Brgy. Captain Brgy. Sun Valley Paraaque City

Provider of this information

Dr. Corazon PB. Claudio Chair, MAP Environment & Urban Development Committee and Project Director, MAP-IGES Recycling Project Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Center for Management Excellence Unit 608, Sixth Floor, Tower One, Ayala Triangle, Ayala Avenue 1226 Makati City, Philippines Tel: (632) 751-1149-52; Fax: (632) 751-1154 E-Mail: mapsec@globenet.com.ph or map@globenet.com.ph MAP Website: www.map.com.ph or No. 30 Macapuno St., Valle Verde I, Pasig City, Philippines Tel: 632-671-3266 Email: cpbclaudio2005@yahoo.com , earthinstituteasia@gmail.com