Improper Solid Waste Management in Manila
Written by Bea Fernandez
A global problem we face nowadays is the pollution present wherever we go in the world. Most of the habitat present in the Earth may be filled with solid waste left by humans. Most trash takes years to decompose, which cause great damage to its environment. Due to the damage it costs in its surroundings, it may create an unhealthy and a harmful place for creatures to live in. Sadly, amidst the warnings and efforts the government do towards pollution, it is still a major threat to us, mostly due to littering, especially here in Manila.
As we all know, littering does no good to every one of us yet most people still throw their trashes on places where trash should not be placed. Everywhere you’d walk through you’ll always be accompanied by the unwanted dump of trashes, big or small, along the way. It may seem so impossible for us here in Manila to see such a place or an area that has no trace of trash. And by that, we can say that the undisciplined people are the problem and not the garbage itself. This is the problem that I see in my every day, our everyday.
Trash has been a major problem in the Manila, and as years pass by the problem grew worse. In 2016, a record from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA, states that the total volume of garbage thrown by Metro Manila residents was 9,499.44 tons per day, compared with 8,600 tons per day in 2010, and the numbers could still rise in the following years (45 percent of Metro’s garbage not properly disposed, 2017a). Even though a large amount of waste is being collected daily it is still not enough.
According to one study from Solid Waste Management office or SWMO of the MMDA showed that the actual volume of waste in Metro Manila that was properly disposed in its dumping area has reached only 29,645.44 cubic meters per day, and that was equivalent to 54.81 percent. That was equivalent to 54.81 percent of the total collected garbage each day. Therefore, 45.19 percent of garbage was not properly disposed (45 percent of Metro’s garbage not properly disposed, 2017b). Almost half of the waste from Metro Manila alone is not being disposed properly. Just imagine where those improperly disposed waste may end up.
According to Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, that the collection and proper disposal of waste in truly problematic, because of this, many conflict can be created, such as flooding due to the drainage being blocked by the wastes, various waste may end up in the ocean, and the wastes may harm the residences and the animals of the affected vicinity. This is an example of where those wastes goes when it is not disposed properly, you may see a plastic floating around the street and next it ends up in the drainage that would bring more problem when rainy season comes in. As stated by Secretary Rogelio Singson, the three major causes of floods are clogged waterways, old drainage systems, and the excessive amount of waste generated in the metro (The 3 major causes of Metro Manila flooding, 2014). Some of this waste not just clog the drainage they may also drift away towards the river found in Manila, which may eventually lead to the ocean.
Due to excessive waste the Filipinos produce, and the percentage of improperly disposed waste. In 2018, according to Earth Day Network’s statistics, the Philippines became the 3rd largest contributor to ocean plastic and has highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia (Philippines 3rd largest contributor to ocean plastic, 2018). One reason for this are the esteros found throughout Manila. An operation was led to clean up esteros of 10 river connected to Manila bay, wherein tons trash were removed from the waterway (Tons of trash collected from cleanup of esteros in Manila, 2019a). Imagine if those waste weren’t removed more trash will be moved to the ocean and more waterway will be clogged causing more waste. If the esteros were to be cleaned it will give a major change to Manila, due to it being a functional floodway during rainy seasons. But according to DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, “that sources of the waste in the estero are the garbage and the coliform coming from the informal settlers”. (Tons of trash collected from cleanup of esteros in Manila, 2019b). If the root of the waste are eliminated then there’s no need for a constant cleanup operation of the waterways. Not only are informal settlers responsible for the source of waste but each Filipino the throw their garbage at the estero. If we change our behavior towards the way we handle our waste, it would be a great benefit in fighting pollution.
According to the World Population Review, Manila is considered as the most densely populated city proper in the world with 42,857 people living per square kilometer. In the 2016 national census, 1.78 million are considered Manilenos (The battle against Manila’s garbage, 2018a).
As stated by the Department of Public Services or DPS, per day more than 2,000 tons of garbage bags are being collected in Manila which is then carried by 500 trucks. Amidst the waste that is being collected by the Department of Public Services, a large percentage of waste ends up in street, canals, sewages, and other waterways. Most of the wastes that is being collected in Manila comes from District 1and 3 which consist of Divisoria, Quiapo, Binondo, San Nicolas, Sta. Cruz, Moriones, Capulong Highway, and Road 10 at the port area. In District 3 alone 75 truckloads of waste are collected, that is equivalent to 1,200 cubic meters, on a daily basis (The battle against Manila’s garbage, 2018a). In a small area of land and a large amount of waste being collected, its unavoidable that huge heaps of waste may be lying around throughout Manila carrying various disease. For improperly disposed waste carries a risk to spread diseases, some waste has been identified as having a higher risk of spreading disease than others. Some of those waste would be medical waste (Diseases Caused by Improper Waste Disposal, 2017). Due to the number of heaps of waste, it’s possible to encounter a heap of trash contain various disease that may infect us.
In conclusion out of the 9,499.44 tons per day as a whole of Metro Manila, and Manila with 2,000 tons of waste collected per day. The percentage of the waste in Manila per day is 21.05 percent. Out of 17 cities in Metro Manila, Manila contributes the highest percent of waste in all of the Philippines. A lot of things are affected due to the improperly disposed waste. Such as the drainage systems of Manila that causes flood during rainy season, how most of our waste are being washed away to the ocean and seas that create a unpleasant characteristic to our country, and how diseases can be spread by waste that are improperly disposed. Amidst all the problems in Manila that involves wastes can still be solvable, like stated earlier, if we focus on the roots of the problem then one day we may end up with a Manila that is pleasant to the people and it’s visitors.
References:
Tantuco, V. (2018). Why can’t the Philippines solve its trash problem?. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/210292-reason-philippines-cannot-solve-trash-problem
Palafox Jr, F. (2017). Ecological waste management. Retrieved from https://www.manilatimes.net/ecological-waste-management/367117/
Badilla, N. (2017). 45 percent of Metro’s garbage not properly disposed. Retrieved from https://www.manilatimes.net/45-percent-metros-garbage-not-properly-disposed/370791/
Marajas, K. (2018). The battle against Manila’s garbage. Retrieved from https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/04/22/the-battle-against-manilas-garbage/
Porcalla, D. (2018). Philippines 3rd largest contributor to ocean plastic. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/06/15/1824813/philippines-3rd-largest-contributor-ocean-plastic
Abano, I. (2018). 2018 World Environment Day: Philippines wages war vs plastic waste. Retrieved from http://environews.ph/waste/2018-world-environment-day-philippines-wages-war-vs-plastic-waste/
Aquino, A., Deriquito, J.A., & Festejo, M. (2013). Ecological Solid Waste Management Act: Environmental Protection Through Proper Solid Waste Practice. Retrieved from http://ap.fftc.agnet.org/ap_db.php?id=153&print=1
Naz, A.C., & Naz, M.T. (2006). Funding Solid Waste Disposal: A Study from the Philippines, https://ideas.repec.org/p/eep/pbrief/pb2006062.html
Remo, A. (2017). Addressing waste management woes in cities. Retrieved from https://business.inquirer.net/238997/addressing-waste-management-woes-cities
Palafox Jr, F. (2018). Waste management: Saving the Philippine islands, tourism and the environment. Retrieved from https://www.manilatimes.net/waste-management-saving-the-philippine-islands-tourism-and-the-environment/384758/
Ayalin, A. (2014). The 3 major causes of Metro Manila flooding. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/metro-manila/09/22/14/3-major-causes-metro-manila-flooding
Manalo, D. (2019). Tons of trash collected from cleanup of esteros in Manila. Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/tons-of-trash-collected-from-cleanup-of-esteros-in-manila/ar-BBVsmfd
Jorgensen, A. (2017). Diseases Caused by Improper Waste Disposal. Retrieved from https://healthfully.com/diseases-caused-improper-waste-disposal-5132913.html
EcoWaste Coalition (2017). Post-New Year Revelry: Waste and Pollution Watch Group Decries “Basura Everywhere” [photograph]. Retrieved from ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2017/01/post-new-year-revelry-waste-and.html
