Introduction

On January 26, 2001, Republic Act No. 9003 (R.A. 9003) otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 was signed into law by the Philippine Government. This law requires all Local Government Units in the country to establish an ecological solid waste management program within their jurisdictions and provides the necessary institutional mechanisms to attain its objectives.

The project SWM4LGUs is implemented in partnership with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The initial focus of operations are in the Visayas, within regions 6, 7, and 8. In its first year of implementation, the identified partner LGUs are Ilo-ilo City, Passi City, Dumaguete city and Buenavista, Guimaras.

Goals & Objectives

The overall goal of the project is to enable local government units (LGUs) to establish integrated solid waste management systems according to R.A. 9003, and to operate them in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner.

To assist local government units more efficiently, the project aims to strengthen the capability of experts in the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and to upgrade their performance in regulatory and development functions, which are needed to implement R.A. 9003.

To establish showcases and best practices for proper Solid Waste Management, selected local government units take part in the capacity building and receive expert training and planning support to implement R.A. 9003.

GTZ’ strategic approach to support the implementation of the law and to attain the set project targets is to provide technical expertise and transfer of know-how to key personnel of the partner agency EMB and selected local government units. The know-how transfer will be channeled through the conduct of vital solid waste management activities and the establishment of model SWM facilities and pilot projects. To achieve key results, a special project office has been set up at the DENR-EMB compound in Iloilo City and a team of national and international long- and short-term experts have been engaged by GTZ to implement the project.

Financial assistance is further provided for local government units (LGUs), if requested, through the Credit Line for Solid Waste Management (CL-SWM) managed by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), which received funds from a financial assistance program offered by the German Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW). However, the technical assistance for local government units (LGUs) provided by GTZ under this project is independent of the loan assistance offered by KfW.

Milestones and Impacts

As of May 2006, the following milestones have been achieved:

• Establishment of a Plan of Operations and corresponding individual work plans for the partner agency EMB and selected LGUs.
• The planning framework and project targets were identified in a participatory manner with representatives from the project partner DENR-EMB, regional executives including significant stakeholders and key personnel from LGUs which had applied for technical assistance.
• The objectives of the joint project were clarified and agreed on within a detailed Implementation Arrangement between GTZ and DENR-EMB.
• Memorandum’s of Understanding (MoU) were negotiated and signed by the regional EMB offices and the LGUs of Iloilo City, Passi City, Dumaguete City, Mandaue City, and the municipality of Buenavista in Guimaras.
• Various trainings were conducted to build potentials and know-how in the establishment of material recovery facilities, especially for composting at the household, barangay and LGU level. As a result, the partner LGUs Passi City, Dumaguete City and Buenavista upgraded their waste segregation systems in public markets and town centers and implemented model composting projects, which are now being replicated in the pilot barangays.

www.solidwastevisayas.org//

National Summit on Ecological  Solid Waste Management Held
 

A national summit on Ecological Solid Waste Management,
otherwise dubbed as the “SWARM Summit: Awards and Launch”
was held last November 30-December 1, 2005 at the Le Pavillon,
Metropolitan Park, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
The summit was attended by solid waste and information officers
from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), barangay
captains in the different regions of the country, some representatives
from the non-government organizations, different business
establishments in Metro Manila that have established solid
waste management programs, and representatives from the Department
of Education (DepEd).
The participants to the summit from the DepED were mostly composed
of regional and division supervisors of Science and Araling
Panlipunan (Social Studies) and city schools’ division coordinators
of alternative learning systems or non-formal education
teachers.
The summit was highlighted by various paper presentations, culminating to the awarding of SWARMPlan Model
Schools and recognitions of business establishments in Metro Manila that have commendably implemented the
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or Republic Act 9003.
The summit sought to (1) equip the participants of the new developments and emerging demands on residual
waste management, methodologies and techniques in urban gardening and social enterprise, innovative teaching
techniques for ecological solid waste management and updates on Republic Act 9003 compliance options for
local government units; (2) give due recognition to outstanding SWARM implementers among commercial establishments
and schools; and (3) launch SWARMPlan activities nationwide.
The summit also served as an avenue for various regions to formulate their own Regional SWARMPlans such as
preparing information, education and communications plans for each of the SWARM sectors (commercial centers,
schools, wet markets, barangays, subdivisions), to include monitoring and evaluation and to form their
respective regional SWARM Task Forces in their areas of responsibility.
The summit workshops also aimed at the initialization of various activities, logistics and roles of the different
focal persons designated for the newly-created SWARM Task Forces and to set tentative dates for their proposed
training and seminars on the SWARMPlan implementation in the regions. (Continued on page 3)
From left to right: Dr. Angelina Galang (Executive Director
of the Environmental Studies Institute of Miriam
College, and SWARMPlan Coordinator, Dr. Fe Hidalgo
(Officer-in-Charge of the DepEd) and Atty. Zoilo Andin
(DENR Head Executive Assistant and Concurrent Executive
Director of the National Solid Waste
Management Commission Secretariat) principally address
the participants at the opening of SWARM Summit,
last 30 November 2005.
SWARMPlan

http://www.emb.gov.ph/eeid/publicationfiles/swar0mplannewsletter2.pdf 

About Solid Waste Management and Treatment Services

Solid waste management and solid waste treatment services collect, process, and dispose of solid waste. Typically, a solid waste management and treatment service helps municipalities businesses to manage solid waste by coordinating several activities. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these activities include: source reduction, recycling and composting, and disposal in landfills or waste combustors. Source reduction alters the design, manufacture, or use of products to reduce the amount and toxicity of trash or garbage. Recycling diverts items such as paper and metals from the waste stream. Solid waste collection and scrap collection allows recycled materials to be processed into new products. Composting is a naturally-occurring process that decomposes organic waste to produce a humus-like substance. Proper solid waste disposal requires waste characterization, the description of chemical and physical properties, either directly or indirectly.

In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Integrated Waste Services Association (IWSA) develop training and education programs for solid waste management and solid waste treatment services. These programs are designed to prevent and reduce exposure to toxic materials or hazardous substances. In some cases, a solid waste treatment service can process materials such as batteries and tires. Solid waste management and treatment services can also assist with closure of landfills and perform groundwater monitoring and life cycle assessment. ASTM International (formerly called the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Technical Committee D34 publishes standards relating to solid waste management and solid waste treatment services, including ASTM D3987 and ASTM E1109.

The International Standards Organization (ISO) provides guidelines for the certification of solid waste management and solid waste treatment services. These guidelines include ISO 9001:2000 for quality management and ISO 14001:2004 for environmental management. To meet various regulatory requirements, solid waste management and treatment services hire trained personnel. For example, a waste management service may hire an environmental engineer with a degree in either civil engineering or environmental engineering. Degree programs in these fields are accredited ABET, formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

 http://www.globalspec.com/LearnMore/Engineering_Technical_Services/Environmental_Services/Solid_Waste_Management

                                       BIODEGRADABLE WASTE

Biodegradable waste is a type of waste, typically originating from plant or animal sources, which may be broken down by other living organisms. Waste that cannot be broken down by other living organisms may be called non-biodegradable.

Biodegradable waste can be commonly found in municipal solid waste (sometimes called biodegradable municipal waste, or BMW) as green waste, food waste, paper waste, and biodegradable plastics. Other biodegradable wastes include human waste, manure, sewage, slaughterhouse waste.

BIODEGRADABLE UTENSILS
Sugar Cane/Reed Dishware
Cornstarch & Wooden Utensils
NatureFlex™ biodegradable flexible food packaging and metalized film
Primary Packaging Material
PLA Cold Drink Cups & Lids
Eco Film™ and Eco Works™ - Bags & Film
100 % Biodegradable 100% Compostable High Performance Biodegradable & Compostable Packaging Solutions
Superlizzy Food Waste Composter

Renewable and biodegradable materials

Renewable and biodegradable materials not only consume less energy in their preparation, but also are less problematic to dispose of at the end of their useful life.

• Renewable materials
• Biodegradable materials

Renewable materials

Renewable materials are substances derived from a living tree, plant, animal or ecosystem which has the ability to regenerate itself. A renewable material can be produced again and again. For example, when we use plantation wood to make paper we can plant more trees to replace it.

Earth's mineral resources are finite, and often energy-intensive, but timber resources can be produced indefinitely, with strong environmental benefits.

Earth's mineral resources are finite, and processing them is often energy-intensive. Renewable materials can be produced indefinitely, with strong environmental benefits.
Renewable materials:

• 
  
  will not be depleted if managed properly
• 
  
  may have reduced net emissions of CO2 across their life cycle compared to materials from fossil fuels
• 
  
  result in biodegradable waste.

CSIRO focuses its research into renewable materials through its work in plant and animal breeding and genetics, and through its research into the forestry, wool, cotton, and food industries.
CSIRO works to establish and maintain international standards of sustainability across these primary and secondary industries.
CSIRO research into renewable materials includes:

• 
  
  renewable and biodegradable wood product research
• 
  
  designing and synthesizing new, biocompatible synthetic polymers and natural materials, for use in ophthalmics, orthopaedics and tissue engineering
• 
  
  research into using crops to provide raw materials for industrial chemicals and polymers, such as plastics, and to surmount obstacles preventing the general use of plant-based resources
• 
  
  research into the genetics and breeding of animals for improved end-products, such as finer wool, or more tender meat
• 
  
  reducing environmental impacts of building by using renewable materials, which consume less energy in their preparation and are less problematic to dispose of at the end of their useful life
• 
  
  research into the quality, processing, sustainability and end uses of natural fibres to increase the value of Australian wool and cotton in the international market.

Biodegradable materials

Biodegradable materials are substances that will decompose in a natural environment. Our research covers a wide range of activities, such as:

• 
  
  re-engineering, designing and developing materials, processes and systems, including nano- and microstructured materials
• 
  
  investigating methods for processing plant proteins to produce biodegradable materials to replace some petro-plastics
• 
  
  developing environmentally sustainable adhesives for paperboard industries
• 
  
  examining recycling and reuse of by-products, such as recycling wool scour wastes into compost
• 
  
  development of a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer that can be used in the human body, to glue broken bones and promote tissue growth.
                                                NON_BIODEGRADABLE 
  Biodegradable waste will eventually break down and become part of the earth and soil, like food scraps and paper. Non-biodegradable waste will NOT break down (or won't for many many years). Examples are plastics, metal and glass. Dangerous chemicals and toxins are also non-biodegradable, as are plastic grocery bags, Styrofoam (polystyrene), and other similar materials.

  About Non-Biodegradable Trash

  Non-biodegradable trash is a growing concern to environmentalists as well as anyone wanting to embrace a more eco-friendly lifestyle. It's important to understand what non-biodegradable trash is, as well as the effects that it is having on our planet.

  
  

  Identification

  1. All trash falls into one of two categories, and is either biodegradable or non-biodegradable. By definition, non-biodegradable trash is any discarded item that cannot be broken down by living organisms. Non-biodegradable trash accumulates in the environment because it cannot return to its origins.

  Types

  2. There are many different types of non-biodegradable trash including cans, glass and vinyl. Styrofoam containers made from polystyrene foam and many plastics are non-biodegradable.

  Effects

  3. Non-biodegradable trash that is discarded to be landfilled will only accumulate. These objects are the source of litter and pollution. The most wide-reaching effect of non-biodegradable trash is the Pacific Garbage Patch--an area of the Pacific ocean which is heavily polluted with plastics and other waste. The Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of the continental United States, stretching almost from California to Japan.

  Warning

  4. Plastic debris in the ocean is responsible for the deaths of over 100,000 marine animals each year. It is estimated that the Pacific Garbage Patch will double in size over the next 10 years if consumers don't do something to reduce their use of non-biodegradable waste.

  Prevention/Solution

  5. One way to prevent the accumulation of non-biodegradable trash is to recycle. This is a solution that everyone can take part in! Another solution is to replace non-biodegradable materials with ones specifically designed to biodegrade. There are now biodegradable forms of Styrofoam and plastic. Making a noticeable change will take a concentrated effort by everyone to reduce our non-biodegradable trash.

   

  Non-biodegradable plastic waste
  Plastic wastes present formidable problems as they are at present not biodegradable, are bulky and can resist incineration. Incineration in fact may not be possible due to production of noxious or toxic fumes. Inadequate levels of recycling aggravate the waste problem. In addition, in a world where plastic production may, in a decade, reach over 60 million metric tons per year, plastic waste is a major loss of an important commodity In Somalia, nylon bags discarded by purchasers of Qat (the narcotic-like green leaf which most Somali males buy and chew) cause severe problems for native vegetation. The bags become wrapped in their branches and around their roots. The plants cannot get adequate air, water and sus to sustain themselves and many die Companies such as Coca Cola and Pepsi have captured major market shares in India, but have not taken any interest in ensuring the plastic Bottles (made of PET) are recycled. While the old glass bottles were reused, PET scrap is not worth enough to ensure recovery because the two PET recyclers are importing subsidized scrap from Europe and the USA. As a result, plastic bottles and thin-film bags are littered everywhere in India, blighting heritage areas, blocking drains and killing cows. Laws requiring use of virgin materials and thicker bags have not solved the problem. [JOIN] a group of volunteers working collaboratively on developing innovative solutions to this problem. The team's solution(s) will be published here.

  http://www.ideaconnection.com/solutions/4349-Non-biodegradable-plastic-waste.html