The
Philippines is expected to move further towards urbanization as it
grows and
develops. Unfortunately, its solid waste infrastructure is unable to
keep pace with the economic and population growth. Inadequate,
over-filled
dumpsites and landfills are causing various health and environmental
problems.
Some
of the serious environmental risks caused by waste overflow
landfills are
ground and surface water contamination, flooding, greenhouse gas
production, air pollution, exposure to toxins and spread of disease.
Many disposal sites across the country contain infectious material,
threatening sanitation workers and waste pickers and, eventually the
general public.
Tests
of liquid runoff or leachate from Rodriguez and Payatas dump sites
were found to contain high
levels of contaminants. Most of the leachate seeps untreated into
groundwatersources
of drinking water and flows to the Marikina and Pasig River systems
and Manila Bay. Landfills and dump sites, despite government’s
efforts to situate them in areas far from population centers, still
pose a threat to the health and the environment.
A
lot of wastes, about one-third of solid waste generated in the
cities, are often dumped indiscriminately and often end up clogging
the drains, causing flooding and increase in the populations of
rodents and other pests. The urban poor suffer most from
life-threatening conditions resulting from uncollected garbage.
In
this age of digitalization and technology, one of the innovative
solutions for solid waste management is decentralization using
pyrolysis technology. Pyrolysis is coined from the Greek terms pyro
or fire and lysis or separating. It is the industrial process of
breaking down large molecules of waste such as agricultural residues,
scraps, tires, and non-recyclable materials into smaller molecules of
gas, oil and carbon black. One of the by-product of pyrolysis
technology is ash which can be mixed with aggregates for construction
purposes.
Most
importantly, people should realize that they play a huge role in
solving the massive garbage problem in the Philippines. It should be
the country’s goal to create an environment free of garbage,
minimizing of waste disposal to landfill, educating the community and
make them aware of their roles and responsibilities, and to involve
the business community in solid waste management.
Post a Comment