Social preparation processes in ecological solid waste management initiative: Experience of faith-based organizations

• Main Author: Era, Marlon D. L.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2011
• Subjects: Refuse and refuse disposal > Philippines > Laguna; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/4143
• Institution: De La Salle University

One of the health and environmental problems that has reached alarming proportions in most cities of developing countries is the irrational generation and management of solid waste. Many attempts are geared towards technology intensive solutions which are usually expensive and do not suit the culture and practice of a particular city or community. There is a need therefore to look into ways on how to respond to this problem in an innovative manner and with more participation from both male and female residents of the community. This paper focuses on the experiences that were documented through a project in one of the cities in the Philippines that made use of faith-based organization as institution in order to address health and environmental hazards of solid waste. A multi-sectoral committee was organized in partnership with various stakeholders resulting in some community models like the local churches as frontliners in providing basic services on waste management. Further, the report looks into the factors that contributed to and hindered the implementation of the project. The documented project aims to increase the level of environmental awareness and to improve the solid waste management practices of male and female residents of selected communities from a middle-income residential subdivision. The clean recyclables were donated to the different local churches that enabled the purchase of different musical instruments, and equipment such as photocopier and multimedia projector. The project experienced was not without difficulties and problems. The lessons and reflections derived from the project could be useful for the policy making body like the Sangguniang Panglunsod (City Council) and the City Solid Waste Management Board (CSWMB) to maximize the benefits of the strategy and what to avoid in the process. The paper highlights the process of project implementation. Project implementers, partners and other stakeholders were interviewed and existing documentations and reports were reviewed in order to prepare document