Waste Management
What are Wastes?
“substances or objects which are disposed of or are intended to be
disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of
the law”
Disposal means
• “any operation which may lead to resource recovery, recycling,
reclamation, direct re-use or alternative uses
Kinds of Wastes
Solid wastes: domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes
especially common as co-disposal of wastes
• Examples: plastics, styrofoam containers, bottles, cans, papers,
scrap iron, and other trash
• Liquid Wastes: wastes in liquid form
• Examples: domestic washings, chemicals, oils, wastewater from
ponds, manufacturing industries, and other sources
Classification of Wastes
according to their Properties
• Bio-degradable
• can be degraded (paper, wood, fruits, and others)
• Non-biodegradable
• cannot be degraded (plastics, bottles, old machines,
• cans, styrofoam containers, and others)
Classification of Wastes according to
their Effects on Human Health and
the Environment
• Hazardous wastes
• Substances unsafe to use commercially, industrially,
agriculturally, or economically that are shipped, transported to,
or brought from the country of origin for dumping or disposal in,
or in transit through, any part of the territory of the Philippines
• Non-hazardous
• Substances safe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally,
or economically that are shipped, transported to, or brought from
the country of origin for dumping or disposal in, or in transit
through, any part of the territory of the Philippines
Sources of Wastes
Sources of Wastes
Waste Generation by Country
(Global Waste Survey Final Report Published by IMO 1995)
Waste Generation in the
Philippines
Waste Generation in the Philippines
• In Metro Manila:
• It is estimated that 25 million m3 of acid and alkaline liquid waste
is disposed of annually from the electronics industry.
• Almost 2,000 m3 of solvents and 22,000 tonnes of heavy metals,
infectious wastes, biological sludges, lubricants, and intractable
wastes are disposed of on land or into water courses.
• 4,000 tonnes of solid waste are generated daily. Only about 3,400
tonnes of these are collected and transported to existing sites.
EFFECTS OF WASTE IF NOT
MANAGED WISELY
• Affects our health
• Affects our socio-economic conditions
• Affects our coastal and marine environment
• Affects our climate
• GHGs are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities,
causing global mean surface air temperature and subsurface ocean
temperature to rise.
• Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea levels and change
precipitation and other local climate conditions.
• Changing regional climates could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies.
• This could also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems.
• Deserts might expand into existing rangelands, and features of some of our
national parks might be permanently altered.
• Some countries are expected to become warmer, although sulfates might limit
warming in some areas.
• - Scientists are unable to determine which parts of those countries will become
wetter or drier, but there is likely to be an overall trend toward increased
precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils.
• - Whether rainfall increases or decreases cannot be reliably projected for
specific areas.
• Activities that have altered the chemical composition of the
atmosphere:
• Buildup of GHGs primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4),
and nitrous oxide (N20).
• C02 is released to the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels,
wood and wood products, and solid waste.
• CH4 is emitted from the decomposition of organic wastes in
landfills, the raising of livestock, and the production and
transport of coal, natural gas, and oil.
• N02 is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well
as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. In 1977, the
US emitted about one-fifth of total global GHGs.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
Reduce Waste
• Reduce office paper waste by implementing a formal policy to
duplex all draft reports and by making training manuals and
personnel information available electronically.
• Improve product design to use less materials.
• Redesign packaging to eliminate excess material while
maintaining strength.
• Work with customers to design and implement a packaging
return program.
• Switch to reusable transport containers.
• Purchase products in bulk.
Reuse
• Reuse corrugated moving boxes internally.
• Reuse office furniture and supplies, such as interoffice envelopes,
file folders, and paper.
• Use durable towels, tablecloths, napkins, dishes, cups, and
glasses.
• Use incoming packaging materials for outgoing shipments.
• Encourage employees to reuse office materials rather than
purchase new ones.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
Donate/Exchange
• old books
• old clothes
• old computers
• excess building materials
• old equipment to local organizations
Employee Education
• Develop an “office recycling procedures” packet.
• Send out recycling reminders to all employees including
environmental articles.
• Train employees on recycling practices prior to implementing
recycling programs.
• Conduct an ongoing training process as new technologies are
introduced and new employees join the institution.
• education campaign on waste management that includes an
extensive internal web site, quarterly newsletters, daily bulletins,
promotional signs and helpful reference labels within the campus
of an institution.
Preventing Waste
• packaging waste reductions and changes in the manufacturing
process
• use biodegradable materials
Conduct outreach program adopting an ecologically sound waste
management system which includes:
• waste reduction
• segregation at source
• composting
• recycling and re-use
• more efficient collection
• more environmentally sound disposal
