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Aug, 2019

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As they say, a person's trash is another person's treasure.

In Brgy. Lapu-Lapu, Agdao District, Davao City, citizens have created a group called Group of Advocates on Recycling for Better and Greater Environment or GARBAGE for short.

According to a Biyahe ni Drew episode, the group's advocacy is to lessen the people's trash, especially within their barangay.

In effect, they've created the Waste Museum back in October 2018. The museum filled with artworks created from plastic wrappers to paper trash.

GARBAGE co-founder and Waste Museum artist Dennis Almoroto showed products even made out of a deodorant stick and wires.

"Pati material na waste ginawa namin parang spider," he said. "Creative naman tayong mga Pinoy."

The show's host Drew Arellano said that the group plans to open the museum to the public as a tourist spot and as a source of livelihood for the residents as well. - Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News

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Waste museum in Davao showcases recycling done right

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The group plans to open the museum to the public as a tourist spot and as a source of livelihood for the residents as well.

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Sept 2021

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Start with these questions and statistics!
More Articles on Urban Solid Waste Management in the Philippines
How much waste does the Philippines produce yearly?

18 Million tons!

The Philippines was estimated to generate 18.05 Million Tons in 2020, according to the latest Solid Waste Management Status Report (2008-2018)

That's equivalent to the weight of more than 2 MILLION ELEPHANTS!

This figure may be an underestimation, as it does not account the COVID-19 pandemic.

Total solid waste generation of the Philippines is expected to reach 23.61M tons in 2025.
The NSWMC now hosts a dashboard for projected waste generation by city and municipality in the Philippines.
How much waste does an average Filipino produce?

In the Philippines, a person generates around 0.40 kg daily.

To compare, in Singapore, a person generates 3.72 kg of solid waste daily (otherwise known as daily per capita generation).
Read: Cities of the Philippines and Waste Management: Waste Generation of Philippine Cities
What can affect a person's waste generation?

Daily waste generation of a person may be higher (or lower) with changes in lifestyle, urbanization level, and migration patterns.

Waste composition of countries by income levels. What a Waste 2.0

5 Most Important Questions about PH Solid Waste Management
What types of waste are generated in the Philippines?

52% of the solid waste generated in the Philippines is biodegradable, as of 2015.

Waste composition of the Philippines (NSWMC, 2014)

With proper composting, especially backyard composting, a significant volume of waste can be reduced from management.

However, the because Philippine cities are planned poorly, backyard composting is a challenge.
Read: 3 Reasons Why Urban Solid Waste Management is Important!
In the Philippines, where do municipal solid wastes come from?

Most of solid waste that Filipinos generate come from residential sources - !

These are in the form of kitchen scraps, yard waste, paper, and plastic, among other types of waste.

Sources of municipal solid waste in the Philippines 2008-2013 (NSWMC 2020)

Because residential sources generate a major percentage, municipal solid waste management should focus on reducing waste generation by households.

Although industrial solid waste consist only 4% of total Philippine solid waste, managing it requires much effort and resources.

How many years has the Philippine waste management law been in effect?

21 years. The age of Republic Act 9003, the landmark law, as of January 2022.

RA 9003 is a declaration to " adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program. "

Three presidents - Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino, Duterte - were not enough to achieve the salient conditions of Republic Act 9003, particularly waste segregation at source.

In January 2021, the Philippine Institute of Development Studies published a discussion paper on the regulatory policies of Philippine solid waste management.
WATCH: We Overlook THIS in Solid Waste Management
Does the Philippines recycle?

A Rappler article reports that, as of 2016, only 5% of total Philippine waste is recycled.

50% is the target waste diversion rate of the incumbent National Solid Waste Management Strategy (2012-2016).

Waste diversion are "activities which reduce or eliminate the amount of solid waste from waste disposal facilities (RA 9003)."

These include reduction of waste at the source, recycling and composting.

Latest available data of 2015 suggests that average diversion rate in Metro Manila is 48% while outside Metro Manila is 46% (although many LGUs report lower.)

How many barangays have material recovery facilities?

32% of total barangays in the Philippines are served by material recovery facilities (MRFs) as of 2018.

Out of the 42,044 barangays in the Philippines in 2018, 13,612 were served by MRFs (NSWMC Report 2008-2018).

Republic Act 9003 defines material recovery facilities as a facility " designed to receive, sort, process, and store compostable and recyclable material efficiently and in an environmentally sound manner (Section 33)."

The law does not mandate individual barangays to operate individual MRFs. Facilities can be shared among clusters of barangays.
My experience in local government planning...
Have people been punished for violating the provisions of the solid waste management law (Republic Act 9003)?

A December 2020 Municipal Trial Court Decision found an elected official in Region 3 (Central Luzon) guilty of violating provisions on the establishment and operation of open dumps (Section 48 (9)).

Sentence is a fine of P500,000 and 5% of net annual income for the year 2010.

600 local government executives were investigated by the Ombudsman through complaints filed by the Ecowaste Coalition on February 2016.

The progress of the investigations manifest that local governments are being made accountable for failure to implement proper solid waste management systems.

How much of Philippine waste is plastic waste?

10% of total waste generated by the Philippines is plastic waste, according to a 2019 PhilStar article.

It is good that plastic waste is receiving worldwide attention because it is really a difficult material to dispose.

However, other types of waste are not receiving as much attention, e.g., food waste and paper waste.

Do local governments in the Philippines plan solid waste management?

Philippine provinces, cities and municipalities are mandated by law to prepare 10-year solid waste management plans.
2021 UPDATE: The NSWMC now hosts a dashboard of the 10-year solid waste management plans of Philippine LGUs.
As of November 17, 2021, 65.3% of all LGUs have approved solid waste management plans. Still under evaluation are 30.4% of LGU SWM plans; around 4% have not submitted SWM plans for approval.
LISTEN: How do LGUs in the Philippines plan solid waste management??
How is waste disposed in the Philippines?

The Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Law mandates sanitary landfills as " alternative final disposal sites " to open and controlled dumpsites.

Sanitary landfills have "engineering control over significant potential environmental impacts."

In 2018, only around 22% Philippine local government units have access to sanitary landfills.

Local government units are not required to establish their own sanitary landfills. (The NSWMC has a list of operational sanitary landfills.)

Common waste disposal facilities, and waste management facilities in general, can be shared, pursuant to the Cooperative Undertakings provision of the Local Government Code (Section 33 of Republic Act 7160.

In 2018, there were still 353 illegal dumpsites operating (NSWMC).

All dumpsites should have been closed and phased out in 2006.

In August 2021, DENR reported that all open dumpsites have been shut down.
The Closure of dumpsites is one of my top stories for 2021 Rewind!
Does waste management affect climate change?

In 2018, the Philippine waste sector was estimated to contribute 6% of the total human-induced greenhouse gas emissions of the country.

The solid waste sector contributes to human-induced GHG emissions mainly through collection and disposal processes.

Waste diversion facilities have machines that emit smoke.

Backyard burning becomes harmful as waste content includes plastic waste.

Incineration is prohibited in the country through the Clean Air Act (RA 8749), so waste-to-energy (WTE) is being pursued.

However,the pursuit of WTE technologies is also deemed a loss scenario by waste campaign groups.
We proposed policy roadmaps for smart solid waste management
How much do local governments spend on waste management?

According to What a Waste 2.0, high income countries spend 4% of total municipal budget on solid waste, middle-income countries 11%, and low-income countries 19%.

The Philippines is classified as a lower-middle-income country.

Municipalities in developing countries like the Philippines typically spend 80-90% of their total municipal solid waste budget spent on collection and disposal services, based on a 2013 study of developing countries.

Reducing generated solid waste will also reduce the needed budget for collection and disposal.

A model in waste collection budget is San Fernando City, Pampanga, which has reduced its waste management expenditure from P70M to P15M.
What tools and instruments are available to LGUs in planning waste management?
How can scavengers help improve municipal waste management systems?

A 2012 study found that in Quezon City, the informal sector recovers 30% of total municipal solid waste.

The informal sector refers to scavengers, waste pickers, and other individuals who are "involved in the extraction of recyclable and reusable materials from mixed waste (Wilson 2006)".

The informal sector has been argued to be an important component of the solid waste management system, particularly by a 2012 study in Iloilo City.

While the activities of the informal sector provide enhanced income opportunities for the poor, they are not always integrated in waste management strategies.
Enroll in my course on solid waste management...
Further Reading

Interested in solid waste management planning?

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15 Statistics about Solid Waste Management in the Philippines that Every Filipino should Know (Updated 2022!) - EnP Tinio

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Start with these questions and statistics! More Articles on Urban Solid Waste Management in the Philippines 18 Million tons! The Philippines was estimated to generate 18.05 Million Tons in 2020, according to the latest Solid Waste Management Status Report (2008-2018) That's equivalent to the weight of more than 2 MILLION ELEPHANTS!

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Dec 2021

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Sept 2020

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Nov 2020

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DD5: What can we do with the waste that we create?

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Listen to this episode from Disrupt Davao Podcast on Spotify. In this episode, we have the creator and lead of BGS Davao (Biggest Garage Sale Davao), Marj Alawi-Bulahan. Her work in the last two years focused on connecting, engaging people, and building communities.

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Nov 2020

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Slow food enthusiasts underscored the importance of food waste reduction and management during the 25th episode of "Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways," with the topic "Waste Not, Want Not: A Food Waste Episode with Slow Food Manila."

The online conversation hosted by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda featured restaurateurs including Chef Kalel Demetrio, co-owner of Agimat Foraging Bar and Kitchen; Chef Waya Wijangco, owner of Gourmet Gypsy Art Café; and Chef Robby Goco, owner of Cyma Restaurants, who shared how they implement sustainable consumption and production in their restaurants and highlighted the importance of managing food waste.

Chef Demetrio, known as a "Liquid Maestro", introduced the basics of foraging, as a way of processing indigenous ingredients into food, drinks, or condiments. He works with the local farmers, and uses low-technology and indigenous knowledge to make products from the unusual and rare fruits and vegetables so it will not be wasted.

"Back in the days kasi, everything is foraging. There are no groceries and fast food chains, so we tend to create everything on our own. In the modern times, we see the beauty of foraging kasi nakikita natin na it is unadulterated and all ingredients can be found in nature. Alam mo 'yong quality kasi ikaw mismo ang nagtanim... unlike getting something from the grocery, it is an endgame na kaagad kasi it is already a by-product," said Demetrio.

Chef Wijangco, a staunch advocate for inclusive employment, small enterprise, and support for local farmers,environmental conservation, tourism development, and education, shared how Gourmet Gypsy Art Café applied the rules of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle into the daily food preparation and other processes in their restaurant.

"Sustainability is a way of life. It requires mindfulness, consideration for others, the environment we live in, and the communities we interact with. It takes a lot of work and commitment, but it is the kind of effort that truly makes our world a better place to live in," said Wijangco.

Chef Goco, fascinated by creating something out of nothing, has been innovating by using the entire animal kingdom, or ingredients from nose to tail and from roots to seeds, to make dishes for his restaurants. He explained the basics of menu costing and their back of house control points. He showed some dishes made from unused parts of meat and vegetables. He also demonstrated how to make tomato paste from overripe tomatoes, which are usually thrown away.

"As a chef owning 12 restaurants, ang pinaka importante sa lahat is when I go to the restaurant, I check the garbage kung ano ang laman, kasi pag may nakita akong produkto na hindi dapat nasa basurahan, I call the manager and tell them, "why are you not efficiently using your ingredients?" Because my secret is, if I know at the end of the evening na malinis ang basurahan ko, then I know my business is profitable dahil hindi ako nagtatapon," said Goco.

Legarda, as an advocate of slow food and circular economy, showed several photos of the foods she prepared from the ingredients taken from her own home garden.

"We promote the concept of sustainability in our lives so that we can use our natural resources in a way that it is not wasted, or depleted. In this way, we teach ourselves to live properly and with respect for our nature," said Legarda.

As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, "Stories for a Better Normal" aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a 'better normal' can be realized within our communities.

This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.

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Reduce food waste, embrace slow food movement in support of sustainable consumption and production - Mindanao Daily News

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Slow food enthusiasts underscored the importance of food waste reduction and management during the 25th episode of "Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways," with the topic "Waste Not, Want Not: A Food Waste Episode with Slow Food Manila."

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Dec 2020

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Looking Into the Solid Waste Management of Purok Sto. Niño, Buhangin, Davao City –Environmental Vlog

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Feb 2021

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Mayor Sara certifies as urgent proposed measure banning single-use plastics

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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 2 Feb) – The draft ordinance banning single-use plastics (SUPs) has been certified as urgent, Mayor Sara Duterte said. Duterte announced in her program over Davao City Disas…

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Feb 2021

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Jun 2021 (Not in PT-B)

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The city's solution to this waste problem has already been highlighted and made public for several years now. In 2017, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio even visited a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant in Kitakyushu, Japan to observe their use of the technology. The project, with an initial grant amount of P2.5 billion through official development assistance (ODA), is in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). However, in a February 2020 interview, project manager and City Administrator for Administration lawyer Dwight Domingo said additional funding for the facility is still being sought.

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EVEN before the pandemic, the city government of Davao and the different environmentalist groups were already anticipating the exhaustion sooner or later of the

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June 2021

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PTV NEWS MINDANAO, JUNE 30, 2021 | Kampanya sa proper waste segregation sa Brgy. Tacunan, Davao City, mas gipakusgan

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Sept 2021 (Not in PT-B)

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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 30 September) - The barangays should address solid waste pollution within the city's watersheds frequented by trekkers, the Davao City-based Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability Inc. (IDIS) said on Thursday.

Lawyer Mark Peñalver, IDIS executive director said can help solve the solid waste problem by enforcing ordinances to protect the environment.

Peñalver said the city has eight major watersheds. These are Lasang, Sibulan-Sirawan, Panacan-Bunawan, Talomo-Lipadas, Davao River, Matina-Pangi, Tamugan-Panigan, and Malagos.

On August 10, an ordinance regulating recreational activities within the watershed-conservation areas for the protection, conservation, and preservation of the natural environment authored by 2nd District Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr. was passed.

"The Watershed Management Council already passed a resolution regulating recreational activities in the watershed areas, which was also adopted into a policy by the City Council. What these barangays have to do is to implement it. Further, these barangays should establish their MRF (materials recovery facility) and strengthen their collection," Peñalver said.

Mahipus, chair of the environment committee of the city council, said in an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) last September 23 that the ordinance requires the trekkers to inform the barangay a week prior to entering a watershed-conservation area and directs barangay officials to give orientation and screen trekkers for prohibited items.

Prohibited items include liquors, paints, permanent markers, cigarettes, and illegal drugs, he said.

While they are not completely prohibited, Mahipus clarified that the barangays must account all the single-use plastics, including sachets and packaging, that the trekkers will bring into the conservation areas.

He said these plastic wastes must be presented for collection before leaving the barangays.

"What you bring in, you must bring with you as you leave to ensure that no garbage will be left, particularly in the rivers," he said.

Last September 23, the IDIS reported a total of 3,704 pieces of mixed wastes were collected during waste and brand audit at Panigan River in Brgy. Tawan-Tawan and Brgy. Carmen, Lower Tamugan River in Brgy. Gumalang, and Davao River in Brgy. San Rafael conducted on August 20, August 27, September 3, and September 10, respectively.

The trashes included food packaging, plastic bags, PET and glass bottles, toiletries, sachets, medical wastes, and other household wastes.

Of the total wastes collected, 1,518 pieces or 41% were food wrappers or packaging of junk food, biscuits, and other packed snacks were collected; 553 pieces or 15% were plastic bags and sacks; 475 pieces or 13% were detergents, soap, and shampoo sachets; 402 pieces or 11% plastic (PET) bottles, plastic cups, and high-density plastic containers; and 183 or 5% were disposable face mask.

"The lower percentile (2%-1%) is composed of other residual wastes that include, among others, used clothes, glass bottles, tin cans, disposable diapers and napkins, cigarette buds, and deflated balloons," IDIS added.

"We also urge our barangay local government units to strictly monitor their respective jurisdictions and enforce their mandate under existing laws. How they manage their waste problem also reflects how they lead their respective barangay. Most importantly, these areas are critical to the future of Davao City, Panigan-Tamugan watershed being the next source of drinking water of the city," Peñalver said.

According to IDIS, the top brands collected were produced by Liwayaway Holdings Company, manufacturer of Oishi, Crispy Patata, Rinbee, and other junk food; Procter & Gamble, maker of leading detergent bars and powders, dishwashing liquids, and disposable diapers; Prifood Corporation, a leading producer of junk food in the country (e.g. Super Crunch, Yip Yap, Red Chili; and Universal Robina, which produces Piattos, Chicharon ni Mang Juan, Nova, Mr. Chips.

The other top brands were Unilever, Coca Cola, JBC Food Corp, Nestle, Republic Biscuit, and WL Food Products.

Results of the 2020 audit revealed almost the same companies in the Top 10 Ranking. In that year, the top brands were as follows: Rebisco, WL Foods, Universal Robina, Coca Cola, Nestle, Nutri Asia, Liwayway, Regent, Unilever, and Monde Nissin.

Eight of the 10 brands were common in the 2020 and 2021 audits.

"IDIS and Bantay Bukid Volunteers call the attention of the top polluters of our rivers. Start shifting from throwaway packaging models to more sustainable reuse and refill systems and mainstream other community-based working models that aim to end dependence on single-use plastics. IDIS and Bantay Bukid volunteers also urge the public to manage their wastes properly and avoid using single-use plastics. Such small efforts are a big help to conserve and protect the environment," IDIS said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

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Barangays urged to address solid waste pollution in Davao watersheds

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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 30 September) - The barangays should address solid waste pollution within the city's watersheds frequented by trekkers, the Davao City-based Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability Inc. (IDIS) said on Thursday. Lawyer Mark Peñalver, IDIS executive director said can help solve the solid waste problem by enforcing ordinances to protect the environment.

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Dec 2021 (Not in PT-B)

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Davao City may start implementing law vs single-use plastics in 2022

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The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Davao aims to fully implement by 2022 the No to Single-Use Plastics Ordinance of 2021, which regulates the sale, distribution, and use of…