Waste management in the city, a grassroots approach

ONE must have felt the indignation upon witnessing the tons of garbage in the aftermath of the Panagbenga festival. Thus, one may ask are we slowly becoming a nation of fools incapable of managing our own waste? Does the goal of inculcating discipline in waste management in our school, futile? Can we still here the words “pocket your garbage, pick up your trash, leave no garbage behind” from old mentors?

Managing waste in the city are usually centered on waste disposal system such as Engineered Sanitary Landfill, Garbage Bin Technology, Waste Transformation and Transportation technology and even fine and penalties for violators. Seldom can one witness the idea of waste prevention. What is the cause of garbage mismanagement? Is it the garbage itself or the waste disposer? In our modern times humans continue to invent materials for consumptions be it renewable or not. Hence, even if our city has the most modern garbage disposal facility, waste disposal problem persists when visitors and residents are insensible and non – compliant.

In sum, the city must invest on educating our young minds in the basic education sector by providing funds, incentives, winnings and other remedies to ensure waste disposal education and its sustainability. Indeed, programs and clubs such as (WOW) War on Waste, WAR (Waste Abandonment and Recovery), Eco Waste Coalition, Salaknib ti Waig , (3R) Restore Reuse Recycle club and other organizations must be maintained or encourage in schools. In fact, producing a well-informed and disciplined person in garbage disposal is economical than inventing a high tech garbage facility. Laurence E. Delos Santos