INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

Grade 12 ABM – St. Margaret Clitherow

Application of 3Rs Waste Practices of Filipinos for Sustainable Waste Management in

the Country: A Case Study

by:

Banuelos, Faith M.

Bariuan, Nicole Angelica M.

Damo, Ro-anne S.

Fernandez, Kevin Paul R.

Gagarin, Muneerah Jill A.

Inaldo, Marthen Douglas P.

Ramiscal, Arfiele Zhairome L.

Valdez, Shemarey Mae S.

Submitted to:
Mr. Humprey Ian Olarte Sagabaen
Philosophy Subject Teacher
 November 2022

On a global scale, we currently are facing three major environmental crises: global
warming, depletion of resources, and destruction of our ecosystem (Tanaka, 2010). These
crises are interrelated and connected to waste and waste management. One of the concepts
that was introduced into solid waste management was that of the “hierarchy of waste
management” also known as the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle).

Typically, when individuals hear the three Rs, they recall the phrase from their
childhood without thinking about where it came from. But as it turns out, there is a great
deal of controversy around the origins of this catchphrase, and no conclusive explanation
has ever been provided. According to Earthday.org, Earth Day is to be credited for the three
Rs' creation, especially the first one, which Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson arranged in
1970. Over 20 million Americans attended festivals and fairs across the nation on this first
Earth Day to learn about a variety of environmental challenges and how we can all do our
part. Before this incident, using disposables at home was standard practice. A significant
increase in household trash was produced in the 1950s during the economic boom as
people were more inclined to stockpile materials to be utilized to make weapons and other
items during World War II. When the war was done, there was an absurd amount of
leftover waste that was dumped in landfills throughout America.

The creation of the Environmental Protection Agency followed shortly after, so Earth Day
couldn't have occurred at a better moment. The American public and people all over the
world have relied on this catchphrase for decades. They contributed to increasing
awareness of the need for conservation and demonstrated how regular homes might make
an effort to be green.

Reduction

The first R is the strict prevention of waste generation through the application of
source reduction techniques in every aspect of production, the "avoidance of waste"
preventative principle. Reducing packing, changing production processes, and influencing
consumers to desire more items with less packaging are all important aspects of waste
prevention. Many countries are conducting public awareness efforts to inform the
populace, persuade buyers to demand products that generate less waste, and propel the
development of a more resource-efficient market.
Reuse

Reuse, the following R, refers to using an item after its primary use for a function
that is either related to or entirely different from what it was intended for. By repairing,
selling, or donating things to charities and community organizations, one can reuse them
and cut down on waste. Reuse beats recycling because it requires less processing than
recycling does. Sensitive reuse programs can have significant social and cultural
advantages in addition to environmental advantages. Reusing beverage bottles or store-
bought plastic bags is an illustration of this.

Recycle

Another waste management technique used in industrialized nations is recycling.

Waste with productive value is collected, separated, and processed during the recycling
process so that inorganic fractions can be recycled.

Reduction of waste conserves valuable resources and contributes to a decrease in

collection and treatment (equivalent to reduction in gas emissions, consumption of fuel and
other items vehicles and cost savings by the collection; a reduction in treatment
requirements also saves energy and, in some technologies, reduces emissions). In addition,
the fact that residues are not produced obviously results in a decrease in the number of
materials that require final disposal. On the other hand, reliance on reuse, albeit limited in
some instances, if properly integrated into a comprehensive waste management program
also can make important contributions to waste reduction, material conservation, cost
savings and environmental protection. Finally, recycling in all of its forms also helps to
conserve materials and energy, reduce the quantities of materials going to landfills,
contributes to the economy, generates jobs and helps protect the environment.

3Rs help diminish the main problem in our environment, which is pollution. One of
the best ways to support sustainable waste management appears to be to effectively apply
the 3Rs policies. As a result of the varying degrees of success of the 3Rs practice around the
world, a significant amount of research is being done to explain the variations in
community participation in waste practices, particularly focused on recycling and
composting rates and on improving the methods used in household waste management.

The 3R initiative is crucial because it guides people toward sustainable living.

Making them consider the effects of their consumption can motivate them to choose a
lifestyle that will lessen their waste production and environmental impact. Saving natural
resources for the future is also made possible by reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Additionally, as more items are recycled, reused, or reduced in size, less waste is generated
that needs to be disposed of or burned in landfills, saving money on both the prices and
space required for these processes.
 Although the 3R initiative does not originate in the Philippines, it has paved the way
for different environmental movements. Since the initiative has developed, the Philippines
has also established various laws regarding solid waste management. One example is the
Republic Act No. 9003, an act providing for an ecological solid waste management program,
creating the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain acts
prohibited, and providing penalties, appropriating funds therefore, and for other purposes.
Moreover, it has been utilized as a foundation for various organizations in the country as a
way to address pollution. 

Plastic waste must first be recovered before it can be recycled. However, recovering
plastic waste necessitates a cost-effective waste management system, which most
developing countries lack. In the Philippines, there is an unofficial sector that collects and
resells plastic waste and we call them “Nagtitinda ng Bakal at Bote” or in english a junk
dealer. While recovery may be appropriate for plastic waste with some monetary value, it
does not work for items with no monetary value, such as sachets and skinny plastic bags.
These materials have been identified as major plastic pollutants, with the Philippines
ranking third in the world in terms of plastic waste (Jambeck et al. 2015)

The Philippines has strong and good laws that we can be proud of concerning solid
waste management; however, we lack in implementation. According to eco-business
(2018) There are only 139 operational sanitary landfills serving 308 of the country's 1,634
local government units, and at least 425 illegal dumpsites remain in operation throughout
the country. In addition to that, the government data indicates that only 24 percent of the
country’s 42,036 villages had operational MRFs. Mr.  Eligio Ildefonso, executive director of
the National Solid Waste Management Commission Secretariat, said that it is the lack of
political will on the part of local leaders, as well as a lack of public discipline regarding
proper garbage disposal.

In many parts of the world, the coordinated use of the 3Rs in every form of waste
generation may significantly help achieve all of the sustainability pillars. Additionally, these
approaches can contribute to obtaining zero waste discharge by achieving significant
reductions in the quantities and kinds of materials requiring final disposal. Westfall and
Allen (2004) argue that the law has potential to address the waste management problems
of the country. Hence, strengthening implementation should be prioritized by the
government in addition to the inclusion of informal sector services. A properly designed
plan can make sizeable contributions to sustainable waste management and help reach the
objective of zero waste. However, for these approaches to be successfully applied, it is of
utmost importance that they be properly designed and thoughtfully integrated. In addition,
in several countries, these programs must be implemented with comprehensive and
frequent information, education and communication activities. Additionally, under most
circumstances, the majority of these strategies will result in some type of residue that must
be disposed.

The solid waste management recognizes much yet needs to be done, but it is hopeful
since as much is happening today compared to five or ten years ago. Yet we need to act
more urgently and swiftly if we are to reverse the downward environment spiral which in
the final analysis, is not quite only about managing our waste, but about Managing
Ourselves!
 REFERENCES
Chiu, A. S. (2010, October 01). The 3Rs and Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries:
Lessons from Implementation of Ecological Solid Waste Management in the
Philippines. Retrieved from JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep00773.10
Earthday. (n.d.). Earthday.org. Retrieved from About us: https://www.earthday.org/about-
us/
European Union. (2010). Being wise with waste: the EU’s approach to waste management.
Retrieved from European Commission:
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/pdf/waste/WASTE%20BROCHURE.pdf
Republic of the Philippines. (2001, January 06). Republic Act No. 9003. Retrieved from
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2001/01/26/republic-act-no-9003-s-2001
Samiha, B. (2013, 09 02). The Importance of the 3R Principle of Municipal Solid Waste
Management for Achieving Sustainable Development. Retrieved from Richtmann
Publishing: https://www.richtmann.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/view/458