Chapter 1

PROBLEMS AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Solid waste is one of the major conflicts encountered by every human being. It is any

kind of material which is disposed and thrown away for it is stinky, unclean, and may harm one’s

health. Regardless to that, this dimension requires enough attention and knowledge to resolve the

said dilemma. However, every resident must be productive to create different strategies in facing

the unstoppable widespread and production of solid wastes in every place, especially at home.

According to Beguin, 2012, in France, solid wastes were minimized by establishing

regulations and rules that urged residents to follow and maintain cleanliness in every area.

Altered practices are affiliated with the principles people have to comply for the citizens

cooperate in catering the environment. Moreover, they even offer incentives and benefits for

those who are considered as good followers.

Ahsan, Alamgir, et.al (2014) stated that in developing countries like Bangladesh, solid

waste is such a big deal. The increase of economic activities and high population growth elevates

the amount of waste discarded and scattered in the environment. It is really difficult to control

this widespread especially some residents violate due to lack of knowledge on the impact it may

cause the whole world. Moreover, poor awareness of inhabitants may be also caused by the

socioeconomic setting people live in.

Municipal Solid Waste Policy is raised and running in almost every country in this world.

It is a procedure which greatly helps people to become aware in managing wastes in the
community. This strategy helps the country to eliminate the amount of wastes scattered

everywhere for it is a policy that people tends to obey. The leaders of MSW performs various

actions and plans in order to let the people formulate new tactics on maintaining cleanliness and

disposing garbage with appropriate actions.

In Marinduque, there are several ways on how people try to manage tons of littering.

Some even produce cash out of intelligent techniques they applied in conserving environment.

Hence, other people insist on disobeying rules that’s why awareness of inhabitants must be

observed regarding the solid waste management practices.

It is in the premise that the researchers will conduct this study to determine the solid

waste management practices of selected barangays in the municipality of Santa Cruz,

Marinduque.
Statement of the Problem

1. What is the profile of the residents in terms of:

1.1. no. of members in the family

1.2. years of residency

1.3. socio-economic class

1.4. highest educational attainment

2. What are the solid waste management practices applied by the inhabitants?

3. What are the problems encountered by the residents in managing solid wastes in the

municipality?

4. What interventions could be proposed?

Significance of the Study

The study focuses on determining various solid waste management practices performed

by citizens of selected barangays in Santa Cruz, Marinduque. Furthermore, the outcome of the

study will be beneficial to the respondents in assisting those residents who lacks knowledge of

managing solid wastes in their homes. The conduction of this research will give every individual

a prior schema on maintaining their barangays clean and hygienic.

The respondents will be able to assess solid waste management practices they use as well

as its relevance at barangays within the municipality.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This particular study will be limited to the analysis of the solid waste management

practices applied by occupants of selected barangays in the municipality of Santa Cruz,

Marinduque. This will comprise the residents from the barangays of Manlibunan, Buyabod,

Matalaba, Tawiran and Napo. Precisely, it will enhance the residents’ actions to overcome

certain conflicts prior to solid wastes.

Objectives of the Study

Objectively, this study generally aims to distinguish the solid waste management

practices executed by the inhabitants of selected barangays of Santa Cruz, marinduque.

1. This study aims to accomplish the following objectives:

2. To explore the existing situation of practices in managing solid wastes
3. To analyse the emerging conflicts encountered by residents.
4. To enrich the knowledge in regards with solid waste management practices
Conceptual Framework/Research Paradigm

Residents of Selected Solid Waste Management

Barangays in the Practices
Municipality

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Figure1. Paradigm of the study

The conceptual framework adopts the dependent-independent variable model.

The independent variable is consists of the residents of selected barangays in the

municipality while the dependent variable is the solid waste management practices. The main

concern of this study is o distinguish the solid waste management practices performed by

inhabitants of selected barangays in Santa Cruz, Marinduque. The conceptual paradigm shows

the process on the researchers will investigate the said practices.

Research Setting/Locale

Figure2. The Research Locale

Santa Cruz, Marinduque

Theoretical Framework

Waste Management Theory (WMT) has been introduced to channel environmental

sciences into engineering design. WMT is a unified body of knowledge about waste and waste

management. It is an effort to organise the diverse variables of the waste management system as

it stands today. WMT is considered within the paradigm of Industrial Ecology, and built side-

by-side with other relevant theories, most notably Design Theory.

Design Theory is a relatively new discipline, still under development. Following its

development offers valuable insights about evolving technical theories. According to Love

(2002), it is crucial to theory development to integrate theories from other bodies of knowledge,

as well as the clarification of the definitions of core concepts, and mapping out key issues, such

as domains, epistemologies and ontologies.

At the present stage of WMT development, scientific definitions of key concepts have

been offered, and evolving of WMT under the paradigm of Industrial Ecology is in progress. The

function of science is to build up systems of explanatory techniques; a variety of representative

devices, including models, diagrams and theories (Toulmin 1953). Theories can be considered

milestones of scientific development. Theories are usually introduced when previous study of a

class of phenomena has revealed a system of uniformities. The purpose of theory is then to

explain systems of regularities that cannot be explained with scientific laws (Hempel 1966).

Formally, a scientific theory may be considered as a set of sentences expressed in terms of a

specific vocabulary. Theory will always be thought of as formulated within a lingustic

framework of a clear specified logical structure, which determines, in particular, the rules of

deductive inference. (Hempel, 1965)

According to Pongrácz and Pohjola (1997), there are Four Classes of Waste:

Class 1 Non-wanted things, created not intended, or not avoided, with no purpose.

Class 2 Things that were given a finite purpose, thus destined to become useless after fulfilling

it.

Class 3 Things with well-defined purpose, but their performance ceased being acceptable due to

a flaw in their Structure or State.

Class 4 Things with well-defined purpose, and acceptable performance, but their users failed to

use them for their intended purpose.

All of the problem waste definition areas defined in the Leipzig workshop were possible to

identify as follows (Pongrácz et al. 2004):

 Re-use happens when a thing that has just performed its purpose and momentarily no

new purpose is assigned to it. This generally applies to wastes of class 2. A thing that

has fulfilled its purpose is not necessarily useless. It is because usefulness is defined by

structure and state, while re-use is subject of purpose. As long as structure and state

allow performance with respect to the assigned purpose, re-usable things shall not be

considered wastes. An empty bottle, whose Structure is undamaged is thus a useful non-

waste.

 End-of-life vehicles represent wastes of class 3. They are aggregate things composed of

numerous structural parts. The loss of performance can be attributable to the inability of
 one or several structural parts to perform their purpose. Repair or changing the faulty

structural parts can extend useful life.

 In case the of owner abandonment despite of acceptable performance, the car represents

waste class 4. Unless the owner argues that the car did not meet his expectations of

superior performance usually attributable to newer cars. On the positive side, finding a

new owner willing to tolerate the shortcomings of a new car would render it non-waste.

 Demolition waste can be viewed as waste of class 2, one that has fulfilled its purpose.

When a structurally intact tile is separated from the aggregate object of demolition

waste, it can be assigned a new purpose and thus it shall no longer be considered waste.

According to the study of Galarepe and Hiyasa (2017), the Republic Act 9003-

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act provides the mandate for solid waste management

(SWM) implementation in the Philippines. Despite the established policies poorly managed solid

waste systems are observed. This is often reflected through the use of open landfills and

dumpsites although SWM alternatives are available. Socio economic and physicochemical

studies of waste disposal sites in the Philippines revealed a poorly managed system due to lack of

public awareness, less participation of stakeholders, and minimal policy implementations. A

need for public awareness is seen necessary to help in mitigating the problem.

The following theories served as the framework of the study in evaluating the solid waste

management practices of the chosen barangay in Santa Cruz, Marinduque in accordance to the

rules and guidelines set in R.A. 9003.The Structural-Functionalist theory emphasizes on the

functional aspects of the structures and institutions in the political system. Efficiency and

effectiveness of policy implementation is determined through the performance of its designated

function. Almond and Powell suggested that the physical, social and economic environment
influences these structures in the political system. This approach tackles on the institutions and

structure within apolitical system, which include political parties, bureaucracy, local

governments, etc. Almond and Powell suggested that these structures perform different

functions, which in turn contribute and affects the society as a whole. The Structural-

Functionalist approach can be used in looking at the interplay of the processes involved in the

implementation of a certain policy and how the institutions in the political system carry out these

processes. Likewise, this theoretical approach can serve as a framework for the assessment of

chosen barangay in Santa Cruz, Marinduque implementation of their solid waste management

practices as provided by their local ordinances juxtaposed to the guidelines stipulated in R.A.

9003. Also, the theoretical approach can be used as the lens to understand how the barangay in

Santa Cruz, Marinduque carry out the provisions contained in their solid waste management

practices in accordance with R.A. 9003.The Integrated Sustainable Waste Management

Framework is also an important framework in assessing waste management systems. The former

consists of three dimensions; (1) stakeholders (everyone who has stake or interest in the current

waste management system; (2) waste system elements (includes the operational elements from

generation to disposal); and (3) sustainability aspects (includes the technical, social, political,

environment and financial-economic). This framework will serve as foundation for the

assessment of the effectiveness of the local ordinances in a chosen barangay in line with the

provisions of the RA 9003, so as the practice of the households and industries in line with the

provisions in the ordinances.

Definition of Terms

Solid Waste- are any discarded or abandoned materials which can be in the form of solid,

liquid, semi- solid or containerized gaseous material.

Socioeconomic- refers to the interaction between the social and economic habits of a group of

people in different community.

Municipal Solid Waste Policy- it is a policy in a community which discusses the practices of

managing solid waste by the inhabitant living in a residence.