Kyla Isabel E. Dioneda Bsce - 3B: Discussion Questions

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KYLA ISABEL E.

DIONEDA
BSCE – 3B

Discussion Questions

1. What are the factors that are affecting the Composition and Characteristics of
solid wastes? Relate it to your municipality. How does it affect the Solid Waste
Management (SWM)?

There are several factors that affect the composition and characteristics of solid
wastes, some of which are the following: geographic location, seasonal factors,
collection frequency, use of waste grinders, characteristics of population, extent
of salvaging and recycling, public attitudes, and legislation.

Sorsogon City is located at 123o53’ to 124o09’ east longitude and from


12 55’ to 13o08’ north latitude. It is 600km southeast of Manila and serves as
o

the gateway of South Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao. It has a total land area
of 276.11 square kilometers and is composed of 64 barangays. Sorsogon City
experiences Type II climate under the Coronas Classification System. It rains
at an average of 200 days every year, which usually starts at September of
early October and lasts until January. It is situated in Philippines geographical
zone 6 that is why it is highly at risk to the impacts of typhoons. Based on the
2015 Census of Population, it has a total population of 168,110 with an
annual growth of 1.62% for the period of 2010-2015.

It is important to know the geographic location, as well as its


characteristics, the climate, and the population as these affect certain aspect
of solid waste management. One aspect is the collection of wastes. The
characteristics of a location may show the accessibility of roads which plays a
huge role in the collection and transport of wastes from the community to the
dumpsites/landfills. The geographic location is also a factor of what type of
climate is present in the area. Sorsogon City, being in the eastern part of the
Philippines, usually experiences rainy season, as well as typhoons. This
results to several difficulties in the management of wastes. One effect is that it
can damage community trash bins, and even the waste facilities. Collection
and transport of wastes may also be hindered due to bad weather. On top of
that, rain generates water that transports irresponsibly disposed wastes.

The population also plays a huge factor in the management of solid


wastes in a community. It helps determine the amount of waste that is being
generated by the public. Sorsogon City’s population density is computed at
609 individuals per square kilometer. The figures may indicate the number of
people that can contribute to the waste generation in an area. Through this,
the authorities can see the trend of the population and may devise a plan that
could handle the wastes that are being generate by the general public every
day.
Currently, the dumpsite in Bato, Bacon, Sorsogon is the lone disposal
facility in the city. It is a controlled dumpsite with a total area of two (2)
hectares and is about 25km away from the city proper. It receives all the
wastes that are being collected by the garbage trucks daily. The city has
several garbage trucks that collect wastes every day on various locations or
barangays. The frequency of collection determines the amount of waste that
is being collected and transported to respective facilities. The average total
mass of wastes that is being disposed on (Bato) dumpsite in Sorsogon is
34.22 tons/day which is equal to the total waste tonnage collected in 55
barangays (41.28t/day) less the total waste tonnage recovered in the city
MRF (7.06t/day). The MRF minimizes the amount of wastes that is being
dumped on the dumpsite. The city has an MRF that is responsible for the
recovery of residual wastes. An example of this is how plastic bags are being
washed, hang dried, and shredded into tiny pieces and packed to be used
either as filling materials for making hollow blocks or as a stuffing material for
pillows and dolls.

Of course, there are several legislations that are behind these efforts. An
example of this is the Mandatory Solid Waste Diversion on which LGUs are
mandated to divert 25% of their respective solid wastes from disposal
facilities through reuse, recycling, and composting activities. It is important
that these are all backed by legislations which would require the general
public to obey. Strict implementation of such legislations, if successful, would
create significant difference on the total amount of waste that is being
generated and being dumped on dump sites.

2. Why do you think it is important to have an Environmental Compliance


Certificate?

The Environmental Compliance Certificate is composed of the


commitments which include environmental regulations, that a certain project
needs to comply. This is being issued after a thorough review of the proposal.
Being granted by this certificate guarantees that a certain project is compliant
of the environmental regulations and of the requirements set by the EIA
system. This makes the project committed to operate under the favor of the
environment and assures that it will not cause any negative impact on the
environment. This certificate is very essential for the execution of a project
since a certain project should guarantee that it will conform to existing
environmental laws and would do better for the environment. It is important
that Environmental Compliance Certificate should be acquired to assure that
a project, while it prioritizes its goals, does not compromise the environment
and put it at risk.
Supplemental Activity

1. Calculate the composition and moisture content of typical MSW is given in the
table below. Which component(s) have the greatest impact on waste moisture
content? Why is this important?
Yard waste has the greatest impact on the waste moisture content. The
moisture content of waste is important because it is a huge factor in
biodegradation. It is essential for the growth of microorganisms which are needed
for biodegradation. An increase in moisture content would mean an increase in
microbial activity within wastes as it promotes the dissolution and mixing of
soluble substrates and nutrients and provides a mechanism for microbial
transport within a landfill.

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