Polytechnic University of the Philippines- Santa Rosa Campus College of Engineering

Electronics Engineering Department

Environmental Impact Assessment on Production of Hollow Blocks

With Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Plastic as additive at

Pulong Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Laguna

In fulfillment of the requirements for the course

Environmental Science and Engineering

Submitted By:

Matilla John Cedric

Ramirez, Ranniere Evan
Reyes, Tracey Mc Ryan
Sison, Russel Vincent

Submitted To: Engr. Elma V. Luzano

Course Instructor

July 2022
I. Project Description

Introduction

Solid waste material is produced nearly everywhere in the world,

especially areas within or near cities like Pulong Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa Laguna. The

collected wastes in the City of Santa Rosa are hauled directly to the sanitary landfill

of the Pilotage Trading and Construction (PTAC) in Brgy. San Antonio in San Pedro,

Laguna. The sanitary landfill has an area of 12 hectares with a capacity of not more

than 200 metric tons per day. An estimated of 600 cubic meters of wastes are being

collected per day from the 18 urban barangays of the City of Santa Rosa. All raw and

assorted garbage are disposed to the landfill area wherein the recyclables are being

collected by the waste pickers who are authorized by Procurement Technical

Assistance Centers (PTAC). These waste pickers are educated and trained for the

proper waste management system.

The proposed project will provide a way for solid waste repurposing and

lessening the disposal option for solid waste. Mostly plastic waste will be used in this

project because not all material in the classification of solid waste is viable for the

production of plastic made hollow blocks. The operations, environmental conditions

and impacts on the environment and its mitigations of the project will be discussed

briefly on this paper.

Since the project will include a production site for the plastic made hollow

blocks, land area will be needed and acquired for the proposed production of solid

waste material. This area for the production site will be strictly constructed to provide
 that the standards and regulations as inscribed in local and national laws will be

abided.

A. Operations

1. Site Preparation and Construction Phases

After choosing the most suitable area for the production site, there will be a clearing of

vegetation since the area will probably be cultivated with plants and trees. The production site

will require an area large enough to house equipment and plastic waste storage. The proposed

production site will be on an area in Barangay Pulong Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Figure 1: Location Site for the Proposed Plastic

Made Hollow Blocks Production Site

2. Operation Phase

With the production site area cleaned and ready for construction, materials and

equipment will then be placed accordingly. Vehicles will also be required for transfer and

transportation of equipment, plastic waste and other materials, vehicles for plastic waste

should be different and isolated to maintain the health of the workers the people near the
 production site. A sanitation crew will also be deployed in the production site to prevent bad

smell on the site and upkeeping the surroundings and the production site.

3. Plastic Type Selection

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most common thermoplastics resins of

polyester used for various type of products mainly packaging which makes PET the most

suitable type of plastic to be used in this project. PET recycling consists in the transformation

of bottles through two different kinds of processes which firstly is mechanical process which

the most employed physical process to recycle PET. It consists three stages that include

separation, washing, and grinding of containers. With this process, it can now be an ingredient

for hollow blocks making.

4. Production

The first step in production is Plastic waste selection, plastic waste will first undergo

selection to segregate the non-usable plastic wastes in the production which will be sent back

to the landfills for disposal. Next is shredding of the selected plastics, this process will make

the plastic blend more to the other material when mixing. After shredding is finished, the

components for the mixture will be weighed to achieve the right consistency for the mixture,

this includes cement, water, sifted sand, and the shredded plastic wastes. Then after weighing

the right amount for each component, mixture will then take place using a normal cement

mixer. After the components are mixed, the mixture will then be molded and then cured for

two (2) weeks to achieve compression strength.

5. Abandonment

The equipment and machinery for this production site will be minimal making the site

easy to clear out. For the plastic wastes that were unused in the production, these wastes will

be returned to the landfills where they originally came from, the waste generated by the

workers in the production will also be sent to approved dumping sites or landfills. Upon

removal of the site, precautionary measures will be implemented like putting up danger signs,

men at work signs to avoid accidents.

 I. BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Topography

City of Santa Rosa covers a total land area of 5,543 hectares. It is almost entirely plain

with 97.89% of its total land area having slopes ranging from 0.0 to 2.5% indicating level to

nearly level lands.

The City of Santa Rosa is located within 121Ëš 6’ latitude and 14.19’ longitude. It is

bounded on the northwest by Biñan, on the south and southwest by Cabuyao and on the west by

the Province of Cavite. Numerous commercial, industrial, and business establishments are

located in the western part of the city, whilst residential areas and subdivisions, schools,

industrial zones, and other business establishments make up the northern part of the city. With a

total area of 54.14 square kilometers (5,415 hectares) City of Santa Rosa represents 3.08 percent

of the total land area of the province of Laguna. It has 18 barangays, and Barangay Pulong Sta.

Cruz is located on the southwestern part. This is where the proposed project of manufacturing of

hollow blocks that made in plastic residual.

Figure 2: Political Map of City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

 Figure 3: Map of Barangay Pulong Sta.Cruz

Water Resources

Land-based sources of water serve as natural barriers separating the city from its

neighbors by draining their surface waters toward the Laguna de Bay. Santa Rosa, Diezmo, and

Cabuyao are three rivers that flow toward Laguna de Bay from the upland region of Silang,

Cavite. The watersheds of the surrounding province of Cavite provide the Santa Rosa River with

its water source.

The hydrological network of the city is constituted of main rivers and other water

bodies/tributaries. It also has springs and deep wells which provide water supply for domestic,

industrial, and agricultural purposes.

Production of Solid Waste

The table shows that projected waste generation per day of the City of Santa Rosa until

the year 2017. The total solid waste generation of the city with estimated population of 414,812

is about 186 metric tons per day based on the average rate of 0.6kg/person/day (WACS, 2004).

An estimated 53% of the total wastes generated are recyclable.

Figure 4: 10-Year Projected Waste Generated, Diverted, and Disposal, City of Santa Rosa,
2008-2017

II. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT

1. Potential Positive Impacts

a. Employment – The proposed production site will offer job opportunities and

will generate employment at the different stages of implementation. Workers will have

enough income that can support their family and monthly allowance and benefits like

rice, even some individuals who will train will undergo screening within 6 months and

if they will become regular, they can have this kind of benefits.
 b. Increase in Business/Economic Activities - This activity will have a

compounding impact, leading to the extension of currently existing economic activity or

the emergence of new ones. By converting recyclable materials into useful products,

other companies will imitate this strategy of ecologically responsible production.

c. Local Pollution reduction- Since this is kind of an ecofriendly manufacturing

wherein the plastic waste of the locality will turn into a beneficial thing like hollow

blocks that will be used in building infrastructures and others.

d. Promotion of Solid Waste repurposing- People will be provoked and influenced

by this project once implemented on the said place of production site. Results of solid

waste reduction will show once the proposed project is approved and provide a starting

point for solid waste repurposing campaign.

e. Business Opportunity- This project can be adapted into a business for

entrepreneur to invest on. This is a simple yet a great idea to promote since it helps the

environment by recycling a huge amount of plastic waste.

2. Potential Negative Impacts

Even with the aforementioned possible advantages, this project may still have significant

disadvantages in many aspects of the environment. In addition to the specified mitigation

activities, the negative effects on specific sectors or places and its proposed mitigation processes

are mentioned below.

 A. Waste Management
Phase of Development Impacts Mitigation Measures
Site Preparation and > Solid Waste - Dispersed > The project needs a waste
Construction Phases solid waste from the illegal management site for the
open dumps often blocks the project for big and small
drains and sewers resulting to debris.
blockages and creating
flooding and unhygienic > Minimize the area affected
conditions in the site. of the solid waste for a
cleaner work environment and
> Water Waste – Wastewater faster waste disposal.
can result to soil erosion.
> Apply the 3Rs principle if
> Construction Waste – Big possible.
and small debris can affect
the working space. > Stay away from wet soils
that can is probable to
erosion.

> Equip proper safety gears

while working.
Operation Phase > Solid Waste – Hollow > Equip proper safety gears
block debris can cause while working.
discomfort and accidents if
unattended. > Apply the 3Rs principle if
possible.
> Plastic Waste – As the
main material for this project, > Get help from the
supposedly all plastic must be community to donate their
used. plastic to minimize plastic
waste and be a help for the
 > Production capacity- The manufacturing.
production site may only
storage a certain number of > Have a waste disposal
plastics and hollow blocks management team for a
produced. cleaner and managed working
environment.

Plastic Selection > Not all plastic waste that > provide trash sites or
will come from the landfills dumpsters only for specific
or garbage loaders will be types of plastics to make the
used because only a specific production more efficient and
type of plastic is applicable in organized.
the production creating > All unused plastics should
plastic waste segregation be returned to the landfills
harder. immediately to avoid
> The production site will be disorganization and further
filled with different kinds of pollution.
plastics that may be handled
improperly.
B. Health and Safety
Phase of Development Impacts Mitigation Measures
Site Preparation and > Construction Waste – Big > Equip proper safety gears
Construction Phases debris is one of the major while working.
causes of accidents on
construction sites. > A medical insurance and a
team must be provided for
> Water Waste – the workers.
Contaminated water carries
pathogens that harm human > Implement rules and
health. regulations for safety
protocols.
> Noise pollution, Dust, Air
Pollution and Heat Index > Provide scheduling of site
Changes – due to the clearing materials and vehicle uses to
of vegetation plus the increase maintain noise level.
of vehicular traffic in the area.
> Change of soil and water
quality– Due to the
devegetation of the land area.

Operation Phase > Faulty Equipment – Faulty > Equip proper safety gears
equipment is responsible for while working.
several types of on-the-job
injuries each year. > A medical insurance and a
team must be provided for
> Odor and Contaminated the workers.
Plastic waste – Workers will
be exposed to contaminated > Implement rules and
plastics and may cause odor regulations for safety
depending on where the waste protocols.
came from.
> Create a system for plastic
> Health – storing of plastic waste segregation to separate
waste might lead to useful and contaminated
contamination of soil, water wastes.
and air leading to health > Follow proper waste
problems. storing and management to
avoid pollution.
III. LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

 Santa Rosa Environment Code (City Ordinance 1720 s. 2011) – envisions the city to

be model in waste management and free from any form of pollution.

 Santa Rosa Environment Code (City Ordinance 2106 s. 2018) – establish a proper

sewage treatment and septage management system for the facility as required by the city

to maintain the cleanliness of the sewage system and reduce the wastewater.

 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Statement of 1978 (PD 1586) - The

Environment Impact Assessment System was established to make it easier to achieve and

maintain a balanced, sensible relationship between socioeconomic growth and

environmental preservation. EIA is a planning and management tool that will aid in

addressing the risks or adverse effects on the environment for the government, decision-

makers, proponents, and the affected community. The process ensures that

environmentally friendly initiatives are carried out.

 Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990 (RA

6969) - The aim of the law is to control, limit, or outright forbid the use of chemical

substances and mixtures that pose an excessive danger to human health from being

imported, manufactured, processed, sold, distributed, used, and disposed of. Additionally,

it forbids the admission of hazardous and radioactive wastes, even in transit, and their

disposal inside the territorial borders of the Philippines for any reason, as well as the

advancement of and facilitation of research and studies on dangerous substances.

 Philippine Clean Air Act Of 1999 (RA 8749) - The law intends to minimize any

potential negative effects on the economy while achieving and maintaining clean air that

complies with the National Air Quality guideline values for criteria pollutants across the

Philippines.

 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) - The law seeks to

implement an organized, thorough, and environmentally friendly solid waste

management program that will guarantee the preservation of the environment and public

health. Through the creation and use of the finest eco-waste products, the law ensures

effective solid waste segregation, collection, storage, treatment, and disposal.

 Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275) - The law aims to preserve the nation's

water resources against water contamination from land-based sources, such as businesses,

farms, and societal/domestic activities. It offers a thorough and integrated plan for

pollution prevention and minimization using a multi-sectoral and inclusive approach

engaging all the stakeholders.

References:
City Government of Sta. Rosa Laguna. (n.d.-a). Waste Disposal | City Government of Sta. Rosa

Laguna. Santarosacity.Gov. Retrieved June 23, 2022, from

https://santarosacity.gov.ph/transportation-1/

City Government of Sta. Rosa Laguna. (n.d.-b). Waste Management | City Government of Sta.

Rosa Laguna. Santarosacity.Gov. Retrieved June 23, 2022, from

https://santarosacity.gov.ph/about-sta-rosa/waste-management/

City Government of Sta. Rosa Laguna. (n.d.-c). Social Composition and Characteristics | City

Government of Sta. Rosa Laguna. Santarosacity.Gov. Retrieved July 6, 2021, from

https://www.santarosacity.gov.ph/about-sta-rosa/social-composition-and-characteristics/

Tatlonghari, R., Serlie, J., January 2010, Research Gate | Village-Level Knowledge, Attitudes

and Practices on Solid Waste Management in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines. University of

the Philippines Los Baños. Retrieved June 23, 2022 from

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