The problem and its settings

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CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Introduction
Being one of the developing countries, Philippines have increased waste
generation matching its dramatic growth of population, urbanization and
enhanced living standards. Improper waste disposal has been a major
contributing factor to the environment degradation. Thus, an effective waste
management system must be introduced.
Southeast Asian countries, conversely, are the top contributors to
mishandled waste that is either littered or dumped in landfills. Certain Southeast
Asian countries produce 8.9 million metric tons of waste yearly, and 60% of
marine debris comes from ASEAN countries (Ismail, 2018). An ASEAN Leaders'
Gathering was conducted to address the waste problem wherein leaders
committed to collaborate to attain the Sustainable Development Goals and seek
for solutions to control the development gap (Leone, 2018).
In the Philippines, proper waste management is a crucial problem not only
for schools but for the whole country. Lifang (2017) states that 35,000 tonnes of
waste are produced by the Philippines daily. Porcalla (2018) also relays that an
administration lawyer reveals that the Philippines is third in leaking plastic waste
into the ocean and has one of the highest ratings in Southeast Asia in terms of
trash collection rates. Cognizant to the problem, the Philippine government
passed the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or the RA 9003

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which became an umbrella to environmental acts in the Philippines (Aquino,
Deriquito, & Festejo, 2013). As stated by Tantuco (2018) "The law also created
the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), headed by the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)." Tantuco added that
the NSWM is comprised of the heads of 13 other government offices and three
representatives from the private sector.
As emphasized in the 1987 Philippines Constitution, Article II, Section 16,
the state shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balance and
healthful ecology in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature. As of
today, several methods have been developed in order to respond to the
emerging waste management problems.
The Ecological Solid Waste Management in the Philippines also referred to
as Republic Act 9003 is one of the national programs mandated to address the
issue on solid waste management. It provides directives to the local government
units (LGUs) for the creation of their respective Solid Waste Management Boards,
formulation of a ten-year Solid Waste Management Plans, construction of
materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and construction of final disposal facilities.
However, in the past 16 years of its implementation, there has been very
little transformation in solid waste management. Large percentage of the total
Filipino population is still unaware of the implementation of this law and the
adverse effect brought about by improper waste disposal.

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This study will endeavor to assess the solid waste management
awareness, practices and attitude among establishment in public market in
Alabel Sarangani Province. Also, this study will be measuring the effectiveness of
the existing solid waste management programs implemented in the province.
Statement of the Problem
Generally, the researcher will endeavor to determine the solid waste
management practices among the establishment in Alabel Public Market, Alabel
Sarangani Province.
Specifically, the study will answer to the following sub-problems.
1. What are the practices of the respondents towards solid waste
management in terms of:
1.1. Awareness; and
1.2. Disciplined
2. What is the status of solid waste management programs among the
establishment in Alabel Public Market?
3. How does the solid waste management practice affect the
establishment in Alabel Public Market, Alabel Sarangani Province?

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Significance of the Study
This study will help in educating establishment owners and vendors itself
of proper way in disposing of waste. This research will specifically benefit the
following:
Municipality of Alabel, Sarangani Province. This study will help the
municipality by making the public market to lessen waste production. Once the
public market decreases its waste production, the municipality will have less
waste to collect as well. Waste collected from the public market is now also
segregated; therefore, the waste management for the municipality is far easier.
The municipal can get ideas from this study to be applied to other institutions.
Public Market. The public market can benefit from this study by having
a planned-out waste disposal system. The maintenance working for the public
market will have an easier job of collecting the waste once the owners/vendors
segregate.
Establishment owners/vendors. The research can help the
owners/vendors by letting them know proper waste disposal. They can apply
what they practice at the market once they are outside and benefit society by
identifying how to manage and dispose of their waste and by recycling and
reusing.
Garbage Collectors. Garbage collectors will significantly be benefited
from this study due to the already segregated waste collected from the public
market, which will ease their work

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Scope and Delimitations
This study will be conducted to determine the solid waste management
awareness, disciplined and practices among the establishment in Alabel Public
Market, Alabel Sarangani Province.
This study is will focused on the awareness, disciplined, and practice of
proper solid waste management in Alabel Public Market. This study will only
tackle the segregation and recycling of solid waste produced by establishment in
the public market. Other areas of solid waste management are not included in
this research. Owners and vendors in Alabel Public Market will be the
respondents of the study. Questionnaires will be given to the owners and
vendors to determine the application of proper solid waste management.
Definition of Terms
The following terms were defined conceptually and operationally to give
the reader clearer views and understanding of the study.
Biodegradable. Conceptually, Chait (2019) defines biodegradable as an
item that can break down into natural materials in the environment without
causing harm. Operationally, it refers to materials capable of being broken down
rapidly by microorganisms in Alabel Public Market.
Food Waste. Conceptually, food waste refers to food intended for
consumption that is discarded along the food supply chain and cannot be used

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("What is Food," 2017). Operationally, food waste refers to edible and inedible
food that is disposed of in Alabel Public Market.
Hazardous Waste. Conceptually, hazardous waste refers to waste with a
chemical composition or other properties that make it capable of causing illness,
death, or some other harm to humans and other life forms when mismanaged or
released into the environment ("Hazardous Waste," 2019). Operationally, waste
materials in Alabel Public Market that are flammable, corrosive, toxic and
explosive which can harm or cause environmental destruction.
Municipal Solid Waste. Conceptually, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a
pool of various solid wastes by towns and cities from different types of
household activities (Niazi & Wang, 2016). Operationally, it is the sum of waste
from different establishments in a town or municipality.
Non-Biodegradable. Conceptually, non-biodegradable refers to the kind
of substance which cannot be broken down by natural organisms and acts as a
source of pollution ("Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable," n.d.). Operationally,
non-biodegradable refers to materials that cannot be decomposed by biological
processes in Alabel Public Market.
Practice. Conceptually, practice is defined as a coherent set of activities
that are commonly engaged in, and meaningful in particular ways, among people
familiar with a certain culture (Craig, 2005). Operationally, practice refers to the
owners' and vendors’ execution of waste management in Alabel Public Market.

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Recycling. Conceptually, recycling is known as the process of collecting
and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and
turning them into new products (United States Environmental Protection Agency,
2018). Operationally, recycling refers to converting waste materials into new
materials or objects in Alabel Public Market.
Segregation. Conceptually, waste segregation is a separation and
division of waste into dry and wet sortation. (Fonseca, 2017). Operationally,
waste segregation is the separation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable
waste in Alabel Public Market.
Solid Waste Management. Conceptually, solid waste management is
the process of treating solid wastes and offers a variety of solutions for recycling
items that do not belong to trash (Rinkesh, n.d.). Operationally, solid waste
management is the activity or action required to handle waste disposal properly
in Alabel Public Market.
Waste Disposal. Conceptually, Ng (2018) defines waste disposal as a
blanket term for collecting, processing or recycling waste materials.
Operationally, waste disposal refers to the act of people in Alabel Public Market
disposing waste into bins.