Wasting Time segregating wastes

By Beatrice Marie S. Basi  

MY GRANDMOTHER, whom I call Nanay, is always complaining about this and that whenever I visit her. I would just nod in agreement to express my empathy.

Recently, she was telling me this story about how annoyed she was towards the basureros (garbage collectors, or sanitary engineers if you want). You see, last November, we started segregating wastes here in Libsong West in Lingayen as it was strictly implemented by the barangay among the households. But then a couple of weeks ago, when the basureros collected garbage, they simply hauled everything and threw them in one place. Biodegradable or non-biodegradable, it did not matter. They were all in one big pile of junk. That’s why Nanay got furious. She felt that all her efforts of segregating wastes were wasted.

This is a similar lament – or excuse – that some people in other parts of the country have about segregating waste, that it is all an exercise in futility because even if the garbage is properly sorted at home, it all ends up in the same mountain of trash anyway.

It looks like not everyone knows about this waste segregation program. Well then, here it is.

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) states that the government should adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological management of wastes. This Republic Act aims to ensure “the protection of the public health and environment.” It also utilizes environmental-friendly techniques to conserve and recover resources. Moreover, RA9 003 mandates “the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration.” This Act could also make Filipinos think about more effective and creative ways to manage and decompose wastes. Cooperation and self-regulatory among waste generators are encouraged. Further, RA 9003 aims to integrate “solid waste management, resource conservation and recovery topics into the academic curricula of formal and non-formal education in order to promote environmental awareness and action among the citizenry.”

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed this Act 10 years ago. So how come many people still aren’t following? What’s worse is that some are still even clueless about this program.

Well, I am not assuming that every garbage collector in the country is like that. It’s just that why can’t some of them “practice what they preach?” Last November, they were the ones who gave out white envelopes with letters inside stating that waste segregation should be done in every household. Haven’t they read themselves what’s inside the envelope?

This just shows that many people are still unaware about the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Topics about solid waste management should really be integrated and discussed in some elementary and high school subjects. More importantly, trash collectors should be given an orientation before they go into action.

Of course, we try to go with the flow and try to get used to changes because some of these changes are for the better. But how can we progress if some people are refusing to adjust?

I guess Nanay would be angry again next week.

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