CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT

COURSE CODE: EWBE001

Energy and Water
COURSE TITLE: in the Build
Environment

MODULE NO.: 5
TOPIC: SOLID WASTE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT NO. PAGE
1 2-8

STUDENT INFORMATION
Full Name: ESTRADA, IRENE V.
Year Level: 3A
Course: BSCE

Instructions:
● Solve the classwork assignment posted in your Google Classroom.
● Answer the said classroom assignments using our official formatted paper, including the
correct cover page.
● Upload your output on our Google classroom, either by taking pictures of your answers
or having a scanned copy merged into one pdf file.
Classwork Assignment No. 1

SOLID WASTE

1. Discuss solid waste: a. In different parts of the world, b. In the Philippines.

❖ A. The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with
at least 33 percent of that—extremely conservatively—not managed in an
environmentally safe manner. Worldwide, waste generated per person per day
averages 0.74 kilograms but ranges widely, from 0.11 to 4.54 kilograms. Though
they only account for 16 percent of the world’s population, high-income
countries generate about 34 percent, or 683 million tonnes, of the world’s waste.

Waste collection is a critical step in managing waste, yet rates vary largely
by income level, with upper-middle- and high-income countries providing nearly
universal waste collection. Low-income countries collect about 48 percent of
waste in cities, but this proportion drops drastically to 26 percent outside of
urban areas. Across regions, Sub-Saharan Africa collects about 44 percent of
waste while Europe and Central Asia, and North America collect at least 90
percent of waste.

The waste composition differs across income levels, reflecting varied

patterns of consumption. High-income countries generate relatively less food
and green waste, at 32 percent of total waste, and generate more dry waste
that could be recycled, including plastic, paper, cardboard, metal, and glass,
which account for 51 percent of waste. Middle- and low-income countries
generate 53 percent and 57 percent of food and green waste, respectively,
with the fraction of organic waste increasing as economic development levels
decrease. In low-income countries, materials that could be recycled account
for only 20 percent of the waste stream. Across regions, there is not much variety

MODULE / PART : 5 COURSE CODE: EWBE001

Energy and Water in
CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT NO.: 1 COURSE TITLE:
the Build Environment
 within waste streams beyond those aligned with income. All regions generate
about 50 percent or more organic waste, on average, except for Europe and
Central Asia, and North America, which generate higher portions of dry waste.

❖ B. The Philippines’ waste generation continues to rise with the increase in

population, improvement of living standards, rapid economic growth, and
industrialization, especially in urban areas. The NSWMC calculated that from
37,427.46 tons per day in 2012, the country’s waste generation steadily
increased to 40,087.45 tons in 2016 with an estimated average per capita waste
generation of 0.40 kilograms per day for both urban and rural. The National
Capital Region (NCR), as expected, generated the biggest volume of waste for
the past five years due to its population size, and a bigger number of

MODULE / PART : 5 COURSE CODE: EWBE001

Energy and Water in
CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT NO.: 1 COURSE TITLE:
the Build Environment
 establishments and modernized lifestyles. With an estimated population of 12
million people, Metropolitan Manila generated 9,212.92 tons per day of waste in
2016. It is followed by Region 4A with the waste generation of 4,440.15 tons per
day (11.08%) and Region 3 with 3,890.12 tons per day (9.70 %) (NSWC).

Solid wastes are generated from residential, commercial, industrial, and

institutional sources. Residential wastes account for more than half (57%) of the
total solid wastes (e.g. kitchen scraps, yard waste, paper and cardboard, glass
bottles, etc.) Wastes from commercial sources, which include commercial
establishments and public/private markets, account for 27 percent. Wastes from
institutional sources such as government offices, and educational and medical
institutions account for about 12 percent while the remaining 4 percent is waste
coming from the industrial or manufacturing sector (NSWMC).

The country’s solid wastes typically contain more organic components than
other materials. According to NSWMC, disposed waste is dominated by
biodegradable waste at 52 percent, followed by recyclable waste which
accounts for 28 percent and residuals at 18 percent. Biodegradable wastes
come mostly from food waste and yard waste while recyclable wastes include
plastic packaging wastes, metals, glass, textile, leather, and rubber. The
significant shares of biodegradables and recyclables indicate that composting
and recycling have great potential in reducing solid wastes.

2. Discuss solid waste prevention, reuse, and recycling treatment: a. In other countries, b.
In the Philippines.
➢ A. In the recycling field, European countries are leading the way — and were
the first to introduce policy incentives to promote the separation of waste and
recycling, as well as measures to discourage single-use products like plastic

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Energy and Water in
CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT NO.: 1 COURSE TITLE:
the Build Environment
 bags and straws. In this regard, the EU has set the objective of recycling 50
percent of household waste in 2020, and 65 percent in 2030.
These are some of the countries that have successfully managed to get
their citizens and governments to cooperate to attain high levels of recycling,
and some examples of successful policies.

➢ SWEDEN: FROM WASTE TO ENERGY

The Scandinavian country is one of the European territories with the

greatest culture of environmental protection, and therefore has one
of the most successful recycling rates. The success of the Swedish
waste management system lies in raising citizens’ awareness to do
the first step: separation. The Swedes separate their waste into
different colored bags, depending on the type of waste, and the
recycling plants separate it into recyclable and non-recyclable
elements. The waste that cannot be recycled is burned in plants
that transform their combustion into energy (a process known as
“waste to energy”) to provide electricity for 250,000 homes in the
country. Recyclable elements follow the normal process that
converts them into new materials.

➢ JAPAN: THE PATH TO ZERO WASTE

Together with Sweden, Japan is one of the countries that take
recycling the most seriously. In addition to the environmental
commitment, here, the technical need to manage the large
volumes of waste generated by millions of people in its immense
cities is important. And the Japanese have proven to be extremely

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Energy and Water in
CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT NO.: 1 COURSE TITLE:
the Build Environment
 efficient at reusing and recycling their waste. The country’s
government promotes and encourages the separation of water
and citizens rigorously manage their own waste through a system of
classification and pick-up schedules that they fulfill flawlessly.

One of the examples of the Japanese model’s success is the town

of Kamikatsu, a small town in the mountains with difficult access to
the system available in large cities. That’s why the families are the
ones in charge of separating the waste into 34 categories, which
they subsequently transfer to recycling centers. In 2020, the town
aims to recycle 100 percent of its waste; it currently recycles 90
percent.

➢ CANADA: TIRES AND CIGARETTE BUTTS

The North American country does not have one of the highest
recycling rates in the world, but it does have a deeply rooted
circular economy culture that leads Canadians to sell, give or
donate products they are no longer using instead of
discarding them. They are also experts in recycling tires, as
they use the material to mix with asphalt and build roads or
playground surfacing.
Furthermore, Canada has also distributed containers
across numerous cities to recycle cigarette butts, as they are
one of the most polluting, discarded objects in the world.

MODULE / PART : 5 COURSE CODE: EWBE001

Energy and Water in
CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT NO.: 1 COURSE TITLE:
the Build Environment
 ➢ B. Collection of waste in the country is done by the Department of Public
Service, city administrator, and engineering office or private haulers. The
informal waste sector is also involved in waste collection and storage in the
country. They are the itinerant waste buyers, jumpers at collection trucks,
garbage crews, and small and illegal junkshops. Only 40-85% of the waste
generated is collected nationwide, implying that 15-60% is improperly disposed
of or littered. The maximum collection rate of 85% is recorded in Metro Manila.
The uncollected garbage is, unfortunately, burned or dumped anywhere onto
open areas, called open dumps, adding to the now polluted air shed and water
body, and global warming in the country. While recycling through the
establishment of Municipal Recovery Facilities (MRF), which includes waste
transfer stations, and composting and recycling facilities, is mandated under RA
9003, most Local Government Units (LGUs) do not comply with this mandate.
Even though the law requires the establishment of an MRF in every barangay or
cluster of barangays, only about 21% or 8,843 barangays are being serviced by
MRFs in the country. In Metro Manila, though, the compliance rate is slightly
higher at 56% which is more than the national average. 7KH³6WXG\ on
Recycling Industry Development in the Philippines (2006-´ by JICA and Bureau of
Industry-Board of Investment (BOI) showed that the limiting factors to the
recovery of recyclables materials are the concentration of recycling industries in
selected areas, i.e., high cost of transporting recyclable materials, and
weakness of local recycling industries due to high operating costs.

In general, the reduction, reuse, and recycling system, and ultimate disposal in
an environmentally sanitary landfill in the Philippines, unfortunately, could still be
considered as not effective and efficient in attaining a clean environment and
in decreasing the country’s GHG emissions and its effect on the local and global
climate change. This is manifested by the low compliance of LGUs to Republic

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Energy and Water in
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 Act 9003 and rampant littering and unhealthy practice of burning wastes in
some open dumps and areas. Hence, we believe that the key to effective solid
waste management in the Philippines is firstly the political will of the LGUs to
innovatively comply with RA 9003, through mobilization and participation of the
community, private, and informal waste sectors towards minimizing solid waste
and uplifting the economic status of the vulnerable groups of waste pickers,
buyers and scavengers.

3. In your own way how would you implement the concept of circular economy in your
house?
❖ We need to shift our way of thinking and build a circular economy — where
waste and pollution are designed out in the first place; products and materials
stay in use for much longer, and natural systems can regenerate.

Moving toward a circular economy includes consuming less such as cutting the
use of single-use plastic bags. Also, it is also about consuming better such as
choosing versions of products that have been produced in more sustainable
ways or that can be recycled.

References:
Trends in Solid Waste Management. (n.d.).
https://datatopics.worldbank.org/what-a-waste/trends_in_solid_waste_management.html
5 Recycling Lessons From Different Countries in the World. (2020, February 10). OpenMind.
https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/environment/5-recycling-lessons-from-different-countries-in-the-worl
d/

MODULE / PART : 5 COURSE CODE: EWBE001

Energy and Water in
CLASSWORK ASSIGNMENT NO.: 1 COURSE TITLE:
the Build Environment