Raising Public Awareness for Attitude and Behavior Change

The success of SWM strongly depends on peoples behavior. Responsible behavior or

changes in waste disposal practices can best be made when people understand the issue.
Thus, a well-tuned awareness raising campaign was launched to build peoples
environmental consciousness, to inform them of the impacts of their indiscriminate waste
disposal practices and to broaden their understanding of their responsibilities. At the onset,
leaflets were distributed among households, shop owners and office workers, mini-billboards
were displayed in busy places in the city and daily (later on weekly) public announcements
were made by loudspeaker across the city. Meanwhile, awareness-raising articles were
published in newspapers and local journals, which increased the visibility of SWM issues at
the local as well as national levels.
Recycling Program. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with other
concerned agencies, is directed to publish an inventory of existing markets for recyclable
materials, product standards for recyclable and recycled materials, and a proposal to
stimulate demand for the production of recycled materials and products. Moreover, a coding
system for eco-labeling is expected from DTI. Non-environmentally acceptable products shall
be allowed within one (1) year after public notice as alternatives available to consumers but
at cost not exceeding ten (10) percent of the disposable product. The use of nonenvironmentally acceptable packaging is strictly prohibited by the Act.
LGUs are mandated to establish Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in each barangay or
cluster of barangays designed to receive, sort, process and store compostable and
recyclable materials efficiently. The residual wastes shall then be transferred to a long-term
storage or disposal facility or sanitary landfill. All solid waste disposal facilities or sites in the
country shall be published by the Department of Natural Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR). No open dumps nor any practice or disposal of solid waste that constitutes open
dumps for solid waste shall be allowed. The Act further provides for conversion of existing
open dumps to controlled dumps within three (3) years.
Information and education campaign strategies; Recycling Program
Section 26. Inventory of Existing Markets for Recyclable Materials - The DTI shall within six
(6) months from the effectivity of this Act and in cooperation with the Department, the DILG
and other concerned agencies and sectors, publish a study of existing markets for
processing and purchasing recyclable materials and the potential steps necessary to expand
these markets. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, an inventory of existing
markets for recyclable materials, product standards for recyclable and recycled materials,
and a proposal, developed in conjunction with the appropriate agencies, to stimulate the
demand for the production of products containing post consumer and recovered materials.