SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AWARENESS AND PRACTICES

AMONG JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BAROBO NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL

A Research Paper Presented to the Faculty of Senior High School Department

Barobo National High School
Barobo, Surigao del Sur

In partial fulfillment of the requirements in

Inquiries, Investigations and Immersion

Havana, Mameth
Escudero, Elvie Joy D.
Lala, Eula Grace B.
Ferrer, Guilmarie B.
Sabatin, Kyla Mae A.
Emboltorio, Trizia P.
Penionez, John Lloyd F.
Sarceda, Jandel Nino B.
Reyes, Norman
Group IV Researchers

March 2023
 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Solid waste management is a crucial issue that affects the health, environment, and
overall well-being of individuals and communities. Poor waste management practices can lead
to environmental pollution, health hazards, and economic losses. Therefore, it is essential to
promote awareness and proper waste management practices, especially among the younger
generation.

Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) defined
solid waste as all discarded household, commercial waste, non-hazardous institutional and
industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agriculture waste, and other non-
hazardous/non-toxic solid waste. It is also evident that in other places, solid waste production
is increasing. According to World Bank (2019), there will be an increase on waste generation
annually all over the globe by 70% from 2.01 billion tons in 2016 to 3.40 billion tons by 2050.

Senior high school students are a crucial demographic for promoting sustainable solid
waste management practices. They are in the process of developing their values and attitudes
towards the environment, and are potential change agents who can influence their peers and
the wider community. Barobo National High School is a secondary school in the Philippines
with a large student population, making it an important site for investigating solid waste
management practices among senior high school students.

Additionally, the study may involve conducting surveys or interviews with senior
high school students to determine their current level of awareness and understanding of waste
management practices. This may also include investigating their current waste management
behaviors and identifying any barriers that prevent them from adopting more sustainable
waste management practices.

The findings of the study can inform the development of effective waste management
awareness campaigns targeted at senior high school students. These campaigns can emphasize
the importance of proper waste disposal, recycling, and reducing waste generation. They can
also address common misconceptions and barriers to adopting sustainable waste management
practices.

Overall, the background of the study on solid waste management awareness and
practices among senior high school students aims to understand the current situation regarding
waste management among this demographic and identify effective strategies to promote
sustainable waste management practices.

Research Questions

1. What are the current solid waste management practices of Senior high school
students in Barobo National High School?
2. What are the attitudes and perceptions of Junior High school students towards solid
waste management?
3. What are the factors that influence solid waste management practices among
students in Barobo National High school?
4. What are the opportunities for improving solid waste management practices among
students in Barobo National High school?

Literature Review

Solid Waste Management can be sustained with the support of formal education and
awareness. For Ardoin et al., environmental education aims to improve environmental
attitudes, awareness, knowledge, and skills so that people can take positive environmental
action. It goes beyond the one-way transmission of information. Effective environmental
education at school and outside of school can promote the sustainability of solid waste.

Since school is one of the avenue that will provide education and will disseminate information
about solid waste management, several studies were conducted in determining its impact in
the student’s level of awareness and practices. However, these are conducted in tertiary
education. For instance, Paghasian (2017) revealed that college students in Maigo has a high
level of awareness on solid waste management. Meanwhile, their solid waste management
practices in terms of segregation, reduce and recycle were good; while their practices in terms
on recycle and disposal were fair. The awareness on solid waste management of the students
had no influence on their practices in disposal however had affected their practices
specifically on segregation, reduce, reuse, and recycle.

The absence of any of the resources will make solid waste management program failure. Thus,
the community members will be unsatisfied (Lad, Chauhan, & Gole, 2020). Aside from these,
mass cooperation and active participation is also necessary. Therefore, educating people
through information dissemination on how to handle produced solid waste has become
essential (Marello & Helwege, 2014; Nolasco, Baguia, & Padua, 2019).

In the Philippines, the Section 55-56 of Republic Act 9003 or The Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act stipulates that the national government in coordination with Department of
Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA), should
conduct a continuing education and information campaign on solid waste management and
strengthen the integration of environmental concerns in school (Paghasian, 2017).

Theoretical Framework

The Theory of Planned Behavior (Azjen, 1991) this theory posits that people's
attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control are the primary determinants of
their intentions to engage in a behavior, which in turn influence their actual behavior. In the
context of solid waste management, this theory suggests that the attitudes Senior High School
students of Barobo National High School towards waste reduction, their perceptions of social
norms around waste management, and their perceived ability to engage in waste reduction
behaviors will all impact their intentions and practices around waste management.
 The Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura, 1960) this theory suggests that people
learn by observing others and modeling their behavior. In the context of solid waste
management, Senior High School students of Barobo National High School may adopt waste
reduction and recycling practices if they see their peers, family members, or authority figures
(such as teachers or local officials) engaging in these behaviors.

Conceptual Framework

The level of solid waste

Solid Waste Management management awareness and
Awareness and Practices practices among the Junior high
school students in Barobo National
High School

Research Problems
This research problem indicates that there is a lack of awareness and inadequate

practices of solid waste management among senior high school students in Barobo National

High School, which result in environmental and health risks. The problem implies that the

students may not have a clear understanding of the importance of proper solid waste

management and its impact on the environment and health. As a result, they may not be

implementing appropriate practices in the disposal of their waste, which may lead to the

accumulation of solid waste, pollution of the school environment, and exposure to health

hazards. This research problem is significant because solid waste management is an important

environmental issue that affects the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

Senior high school students are the future leaders and decision-makers, and their awareness

and practices of solid waste management can have a significant impact on the environment

and health in the long run. Therefore, it is essential to address this issue by increasing the
awareness and improving the practices of solid waste management among senior high school

students in Barobo National High School.

Hypothesis
Although senior high school students at Barobo National High School are aware of
solid waste management, their practices do not align with environmentally sustainable
practices. The hypothesis assumes that the students have some knowledge of solid waste
management but are not putting it into practice adequately. This could be due to a number of
factors, including a lack of infrastructure, insufficient waste disposal facilities, or a lack of
motivation to engage in sustainable practices.

Definition of Terms

Solid waste management - mainly refers to the complete process of collecting, treating and
disposing of solid wastes. In the waste management process, the wastes are collected from
different sources and are disposed of. This process includes collection, transportation,
treatment, analysis and disposal of waste.

Heath Risk - the chance or likelihood that something will harm or otherwise affect your
health.

Awareness - it as a state wherein a subject is aware of some information when that

information is directly available to bring to bear in the direction of a wide range of behavioral
actions.

Practices-

Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM)-

Republic Act No. 9003-