Solid Waste Management Process

“We can save our environment by effective use or management of waste"

R.A. 9003, ECO-WASTE MANAGEMENT LAW
Principally, R.A. 9003 mandates that the segregation of wastes at source
collection and transfer and prioritizes the wide dissemination and adoption of measures
for waste reduction, resource recovery, recycling, and re-use. Its salient features
include:
1. Phasing out of open dumping in favor of sanitary landfills and banning of
open burning of solid wastes. Non-segregation of waste is made illegal.
2. Phasing out of non- recyclable consumer packaging materials and non-
biodegradable packaging materials such as plastic bag, styrofoam, and aluminum
foil.
3. Mandates the establishment of recycling centers at every barangay
nationwide.
4. Calls for the integration of solid waste management concerns in the school
curriculum starting in the elementary level.
5. Requires the preparation of 10-year solid-waste management plans by all
local government units.

Project Process and Operation

 Segregation of Waste at Source

The households will segregate the waste at source into biodegradable

(wet) waste and non-biodegradable (dry) waste. The non-biodegradable (dry)
waste will thereafter be segregated into recyclables, non-recyclables, and
domestic hazardous waste. Each household will be provided two buckets in
different colors free of charge for the wet and the dry waste respectively.

 Provide Trash Bins

 Trash bins will be provided at every streets segregated into four
categories so that people will throw their trash at the proper place
 Biodegradable. . Biodegradable waste includes any organic matter
in waste which can be broken down into carbon dioxide, water,
methane or simple organic molecules by micro-organisms and
other living things by composting , aerobic digestion , anaerobic
 digestion or similar processes. Example: fruit peel, withered
flowers, leaves, vegetables
 Recyclable . Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass,
paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, tires , textiles. Something that can
be used again by recycling.
 Toxic Waste. Hazardous waste like expired medicines, chemicals,
bulbs l, spray cans, paint, fertilizer and pesticide containers,
batteries, shoe polish.

 Collection

Door-to-door collection of waste will take place on a daily basis in

accordance to Barangay Environment Network Group. After the waste has been
collected from the households and the common areas have been swept, the
waste is transported to the site.

 Composting of Biodegradable Waste

At the site, all biodegradable waste will be composted either in aerobic

composts or in the more costly vermi-composts. Aerobic composting refers to a
process where biodegradable waste is biologically decomposed under controlled
conditions by microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) under aerobic
conditions. The product, compost, can effectively be utilized as an organic
fertilizer to rejuvenate soils. A key risk associated with composting relates to the
product; i.e. compost that is free from environmental hazards. If composting is
not based on segregation at source, the product risks becoming contaminated.19
Composting is a low-cost option, which can be implemented on different levels of
scale, thus adapted to a city’s specific context.
Vermi-composting is based on the digestion of waste by earthworms. A pre-
composting phase is necessary where waste is left to decompose partially and
thereafter fed to the worms. The worm casting is harvested as vermi-compost.

 Recycling of Non-Biodegradable Waste

The non-biodegradable waste will be segregated by category at the site.

The recyclable waste will then be sold to companies that have machinery and
expertise to recycle the material properly.
 Sanitary landfills
Find a place away from residential area and make sanitary landfills by
layering waste in a large hole with the aid of mechanical equipments. There are
different levels of layering of waste to facilitate decomposition of the materials as
well as trap toxic gases released from the process. The layers are made in such
a way that the bottom part has the smallest volume with the top part taking the
bigger volume to avoid collapsing of the land. To have effective sanitary landfill
the following layering will be followed:

 The first layer is the liner system. This is the lowest layer and the
first one used in laying a foundation for the sanitary landfill. The
process entails the application of compact and well dense clay to
prevent the seeping in or out of liquids. It is for this reason that this
clay is completely impervious. This modernized type of sanitary
landfill is also fitted with high density plastic which is applied on top
of the clay for reinforcement. This engineering design is to make
certain there is no room for the penetration of liquids thus
preventing contamination of the underground water.

 The second layer is the drainage system. The drainage system

takes care of the liquid produced from the decomposition of some
waste materials. Due to the toxicity of this liquid, it should not seep
past the liner layer. The drainage layer aids in draining away this
liquid to avoid it getting close to the liner system. Moreover, rainfall
and snow may also seep from the top surface to the landfill and
also needs to be drained away. These liquids may contain
contaminants from the waste materials that can corrode the liner
system and contaminate the soil and water below the landfill. In
reducing this risk, the sanitary landfill is fitted with perforated pipes
on top of the liner layer to collect all the liquids that find their way to
the bottom of the landfill through leaching thus the name leachate.
The plumbing system then directs the leachate to treatment plants
to undergo treatment for reuse.

 The third layer is the gas collection system. In the same way
that liquids are produced, gases are also released through natural
processes. Methane is the most common of these gases. Methane
is a gaseous hydrocarbon which is very volatile as well as toxic and
thus, when released into the atmosphere, it contributes to global
 warming and can harm the overall environmental health. There are,
therefore, extraction pipes in this layer that trap methane gas and
transport it to treatment plants to treat the gas and thereafter, use it
to produce electricity and to power various processes.

 The fourth layer contains the trash itself. This is the largest layer
and is also the topmost. Periodically, trash from various sources is
brought in by the various garbage collection companies and
dumped in this layer. To avoid taking too much space, the garbage
disposed is compacted on a daily basis.Once this has been done, a
layer of compacted soil is applied on the surface of the sanitary
landfill. Soil does a good job of containing bad smells and the
growth of harmful microorganisms such as pests and flies. Also, the
compact soil keeps away windblown debris.

 Awareness and Information Campaigns

An important step to motivate and engage the public is via continuous

public awareness campaigns. Activities will, for instance, include promotion of the
RRR-slogan – reduce, reuse, and recycle – advertisement on publicity boards,
on local radio channels, and in local newspapers, as well as workshops,
exhibitions, lectures, street plays, and etc. In addition, eco-clubs at schools and
youth groups together with volunteers will be encouraged to take an active part in
the project. Some of the themes to be discussed during public awareness and
motivation campaigns are as follows:

• Consumption patterns and a sustainable development;

• The natural source of products;
• Recycling and reuse;
• Littering and indiscriminate dumping of refuse on open spaces,
footpaths, lanes, streets, and into drainage channels or water bodies;
• Environmental degradation and its effects on human health.
The project also implies that certain steps be taken by the public. In order to get
full participation, special information campaigns will target the following areas:
• Inform the public on how to segregate waste at source into
biodegradable (wet) waste and non-biodegradable (dry) waste. The non-
biodegradable (dry) waste shall thereafter be segregated into recyclables,
non-recyclables, and domestic hazardous waste;
• Inform the public about the two buckets (free of charge) in different
colors for the wet and the dry waste respectively;
• Inform the public about the daily door-to-door waste collection and
handing over of the waste to the Street Beautifiers;
• Inform the public about communal bins for biodegradable waste in
buildings, institutions, companies, and residential colonies;
• Encourage the utilization of compost for farming and gardening. Increase
the public’s awareness and knowledge about compost use and benefits in
order to increase market demand.