Improving the Garbage Collection System

in Brgy. Gatbuca, Calumpit, Bulacan

Karen A. Asahar
Industrial Engineering Department
Bulacan State University, City of Malolos, Bulacan
Email: karenasahar@yahoo.com

Abstract. The topic of environmental protection has attained highest importance in this era
globally but the practices of the basic concepts waste disposal are often neglected. Some
people around the globe are aware of the impact of improper waste disposal practices, but the
negative attitude of implementation gives rise to chaotic situations. The study was conducted
to obtain information about waste management practices among one hundred seventy-one
(171) household of Purok 3 Barangay Gatbuca, Calumpit, Bulacan. This study also aims to
promote discipline and awareness to the community regarding the solid waste management
and solid waste disposal. Based on the survey conducted by the researcher it was found out
that there is an irregularity of garbage collection within the barangay due to lack of manpower.

Keywords: Environment, Waste Management, Awareness, Discipline, Garbage

1. INTRODUCTION treatment of water and air pollution to smaller but still

Improper waste disposal is one of the
biggest environmental issues here in the Philippines.
It caused bigger problems that affect not only the
environment but also the health and life of the people.
This problem may be resolve or it will remain problem
to the country in the next few years. Mismanagement
of the waste disposal has a serious effect on ground
and surface water contamination, flooding, air
pollution, water pollution etc.
Environmental engineering refers to the use
of scientific processes to help improve the Earth’s
environment to provide healthier land, water and air
for human use and to find ways to scale back on
pollution sites. It uses the principles of biology and
chemistry to develop solutions to environmental
problems. The goal of environmental engineering is to
integrate scientific and engineering principles to
minimize air pollution and waste discharge from
industries, clean up polluted sites, set up appropriate
mechanism for waste disposal resulting from human
activity and study the impact of proposed construction
sites on environment. Apart from this, environmental
engineering promotes energy conservation and is also
concerned with finding solutions in areas of public
health such as implementing adequate sanitation
facilities. Topics involving environmental engineering
include waste management, water supply, waste water
treatment, air pollution, recycling, and disposal of
wastes, protection from radiation, public health,
environmental engineering law, and the effects of
man-made projects on the environment.
The scope of environmental engineering is
actually larger than one might think and largely deals
with the topics that were listed above. It is broad and
scope and deals with major issues such as the
completely relevant issues like recycling everyday
items and storing solid wastes in landfills.
Solid waste management deals with solid
waste materials produced by human activity, whether
straightforwardly or obliquely. Solid waste
management also focuses on the recovery of resources
to delay the human consumption of natural resources.
Different methods are used to limit the harmful solids
that are released into the environment. The objective
of solid waste management is to reduce the harmful
effects of solid, liquid or gaseous substances on the
environment. Solid waste management also
encompasses reuse and recycling of everyday
materials, the minimization of waste, the storage and
transfer of wastes, disposing of solid wastes at
landfills, and policies and regulations regarding the
above.
The study aims to evaluate the present situation
of Barangay Gatbuca, Calumpit, Bulacan regarding
their solid waste disposal in order to come up with
recommendations that will help them to improve their
solid waste management program. Also, the study
aims to promote discipline and awareness to the
community regarding the solid waste management
and solid waste disposal. Based on the survey
conducted by the researcher it was found out that there
is an irregularity of garbage collection within the
barangay due to lack of manpower.
1.1 Problem Statement
Improper solid waste disposal and solid waste
management program is the main source of the
environmental problem in Barangay Gatbuca,
Calumpit, Bulacan. Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows how
some of the residents dispose their garbage. These

1
existing ways on how they dispose their garbage is not
good not only in the environment but also in the health
of the residents of the community.
Figure 1. Garbage at the curbside
Figure 2. Garbage at the riverside
1.2 Objective of the Study
To improve the present system regarding the
solid waste disposal and solid waste management
program, the study aims to achieve the following:
 To know what are the existing ways on how
the residents in the community dispose their
waste
 To present possible solution on how they
properly dispose their waste
 To promote discipline and awareness to the
community regarding the solid waste
management and solid waste disposal
 To maintain the cleanliness and sanitation
of the whole community with well trained
garbage collectors
1.3 Rationale of the Study
Solid waste can create significant health
problems and a very unpleasant living environment if
not disposed of safely and appropriately. Waste may
provide breeding sites for insect-vectors, pests, snakes
2
and vermin or rats that increase the likelihood of
disease transmission. It may also pollute water sources
and environment. So, this study was conducted
because there is really a need to change in the present
system regarding the solid waste disposal of the
community.
1.4 Scope and Limitation
The study focuses on the improvement of
solid waste disposal and solid waste management
program of Purok 3 Barangay Gatbuca, Calumpit,
Bulacan. A survey was conducted among one hundred
seventy-one (171) households in order to determine
the environmental and sanitary problems that the
residents experience and to gather data that will be
essential to the study. The timeframe of the study is
from October 2017 to November 2017.
2. RELATED STUDIES
The Environmental Protection Agency has
determined a three tiered approach for managing solid
waste. Each of these should be practiced to reduce the
amount material headed for final disposal. They are in
order of importance: REDUCE, the best way to
manage solid waste. Don't create waste in the first
place! Buy only what you need. Use all that you buy.
Avoid heavily packaged products. Avoid disposable
items like paper plates and plastic silverware. Buy the
largest size package for those items that you use are
often. REUSE, the better way to manage solid waste.
Reuse items use them over and over until they are
completely worn out. RECYCLE, the good way to
manage solid waste. Recycle means taking something
old and making it into something new. In Seminole
County, all residents who live in a single family home
can recycle right in front of their house. Those
residents who live in apartments or condominiums can
drop off their recyclables at several different locations.
Old newspapers, #1 and #2 plastic bottles, green, clear
and brown glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel
cans can all be recycled at the curb. Simply rinse out
containers and remove lids. That's it; it's very simple
and very worthwhile. Not only does it keep items out
of the landfill, recycling conserves natural resources
(Seminole County Government, 2012).
The experiences and practices of household
waste management of people in a barangay (village)
in Manila, Philippines are documented. The data were
gathered through an interview with household
members using open-ended questions. Interviews
were also conducted with garbage collectors as well as
scavengers. Results showed that the households
generated an average of 3.2 kg of solid waste per day,
or 0.50 kg/capita/day. The types of wastes commonly
generated are food/kitchen wastes, papers, PET bottles,
metals, and cans, boxes/cartons, glass bottles,
cellophane/plastics, and yard/garden wastes. The
respondents segregate their wastes into PET bottles,
glass bottles, and other waste (mixed wastes). No
respondents perform composting. It is worth noting, 3. METHODOLOGY
however, that burning of waste is not done by the
respondents. The households rely on garbage Presented in this section are the techniques
collection by the government. Collection is done twice and procedures of data gathering and the respondents
daily, except Sundays, and household members bring that are served as the focus of this study.
their garbage when the garbage truck arrives.
However, there are those who dump their garbage in 3.1 Conceptual Framework
non-designated pick-up points, usually in a corner of
the street. The dumped garbage becomes a breeding
ground for disease-causing organisms. Some Input Process Output
household respondents said that it is possible that the
dumping in certain areas caused the dengue fever Observation and Defining the Problem
suffered by some of their family members. Mothers Survey Problem Statement
and household helpers are responsible for household
waste management. Scavengers generally look for Survey Data Gathering Data essential for
recyclable items in the dumped garbage. All of them the study
said that it is their only source of income, which is
generally not enough for their meals. Most of the Data Gathered Data Analysis Interpreted
respondents said that garbage collection and disposal Data and Results
is the responsibility of the government. The results of
Interpreted Development of Formation of
the study showed that RA 9003, also known as the Data and Results Alternatives Alternatives
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is
not fully implemented in Metro Manila (Bernardo,
2008). Alternatives Evaluation of Choosing the best
Alternatives solution/s
This study highlights the results of the study that
was conducted to analyze the solid waste management
practices of the waste generators, and the extent of Solutions Submission of Application of
and the the
their compliance with the Republic Act 9003,
Recommendation Recommendation Recommendation
otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000. The study was conducted in
Bacolod City, Philippines in 2007. The findings of this Figure 3. Conceptual Analysis
study served as basis in developing a handbook on
The researcher started with observing the
solid waste management (Ballados, 2010).
present system of garbage collection in Barangay
Gatbuca, Calumpit, Bulacan in order to come up with
The Motiong town government in Samar has
initial data that will help in determining the
vowed to intensify the implementation of its Solid
community’s environmental problem. After observing,
Waste Management Program after barangay chairmen
the researcher conducted a survey among one hundred
here took at one-day seminar-workshop on the
seventy-one (171) household to gather essential data
program. The activity was held at the Legislative
for the study. Next, data gathered were subjected to
Building here last Wednesday, August 29.Motiong
analysis and comparison to related studies in order to
Mayor Francisco M. Langi Sr. said 30 barangay
come up with interpreted results. These interpreted
chairmen of his municipality attended said seminar-
results were used to provide alternatives to solve the
workshop sponsored by the town government
problem that has been defined through observation
conducted Municipal Planning and Development
and survey. After developing several alternatives, the
Officer, Engr. NicasioPermejo. Langi said all the
researcher chose a set of best alternatives that can be
barangay chairmen were educated on the provisions of
viable solutions to the existing problem. Solutions that
the Solid Waste Management Act of 2003 so that they
were chosen were considered as recommendations in
would be acquainted with and help implement the law
the study.
in their respective barangays and propagate
environmental preservation. He said the town
government will strictly implement the “no 3.2 Data Collection and Sampling Method
segregation, no collection policy” in all of Motiong’s
barangays and urged the barangay officials to put up a The data collected using observation and
Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where they can survey method wherein the present situation of the
segregate bio-degradable and non-biodegradable community were observed by the researcher. Then
waste materials. Such materials can be turned into a using survey method, the proponents were able to
livelihood as, according to Langi, “there is money in gather data through survey questionnaires that is
junk” (Abrematea, 2012). essential to the study.

3
3.3 Data Analysis
This research was utilized to meet the stated
objectives of study. By using Slovin’s formula with a
5 % marginal error, 171 out of 301 household of
Purok3 Barangay Gatbuca, Calumpit, Bulacan needed
to answer the survey conducted by the researcher. The
survey was developed to determine if they experience
delay in garbage collection, how did they dispose their
waste if there is a delay collection, and if they do
garbage segregation.
301
n=
1+(301×0.052 )
n = 171
All the information gathered from the
questionnaire was analyzed with the use of descriptive
method.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Individual results of each question were
interpreted in order to define the overall result of the
survey. The results are as follows:
Question 1: Do you experience delays in collecting
your garbage during scheduled days of collections?
Table 1. Tally of results for question 1
Answer Tally
Yes 171
No 0 collecting garbage.
Table 1 shows that 100% of the respondents
experienced delays in garbage collection. The main
reason why there was a delay in garbage collection is
lack of manpower. There is two (2) garbage collector
in Barangay Gatbuca which is really not enough to
collect all the garbage on time. The fact that there are
1,499 households in the said barangay, one garbage
collector in not appropriate.
Question 2: How do you dispose your garbage when
garbage collector was delayed?
Table 2. Tally of results for question 2
Improper Waste Disposal Tally
Burning 44
Throwing at the riverside 37
Leaving at the curbside 90
Table 2 shows that 26% of the respondents
answers that if the garbage collector has been delayed
for long period of time they just burn their garbage
while 22% of the population answers that they just
throwing their garbage on a river side and 52% said
that they just leaving their garbage at the curbside.
None of these methods are beneficial to the
community. Those alternatives are both harmful to the
environment for it poses threat to public health and
4
gives rise to sanitary hazards.
Question 3: Do you segregate your garbage?
Table 3. Tally of results for question 3
Answer Tally
Yes 162
No 9
Table 3 presented that only 9 out of 171
respondents segregates their garbage. The reason why
they don’t segregate their garbage it is time consuming.
5. RECOMMENDATION
The researcher proposed some
recommendations that may help community regarding
the solid waste disposal ad solid waste management
program.
Additional garbage collector
At the present system of the Barangay
Gatbuca there is only two (2) garbage collector
assigned within the said barangay which is not enough
to collect all the garbage of the community. Because
of this there is a delay in garbage collection which
results to burning, throwing at the riverside and
leaving at the curbside.
In order to minimize the delays if not
eliminated additional manpower is needed. One
garbage collector per Purok should be responsible in
Training of garbage collectors
There will be three-day training on proper
solid waste management and collection among the 4
garbage collectors. A massive reorientation and
information education dissemination among the four
(4) Purok in the barangay shall also be conducted to
ensure segregation at household level. For them to be
more interested to undertake the project, they should
also be exposed to a cross visit to other towns in the
province which had advanced performance on proper
solid waste management.
Equipment Support
At the present system of the barangay, the
garbage collector uses bike with sidecar only. To
enhance the project on proper solid waste
management, provision of proper equipment and
machineries is necessary to carry out the program.
Aside from the dump trucks and compactor, the
garbage collectors need boots, mask, raincoats, gloves,
shovel, and containers in collection. Multi-cabs will
also be provided in the barangays to transport their
residual wastes to their respective transfer stations.
Collection Schedule
In order to prevent improper waste disposal
there should be a collection schedule to be followed
by the garbage collector. These collection schedule
must strictly monitor by the officials.
to her family. All the support and encouragements
motivated and helped the researchers built their self
while doing the study. For patiently helping her in
distributing and collecting the survey questionnaires
to the residents. Without them all, this
accomplishment would not have been possible.

Seminar for the residents APPENDICES

The local government of Baranggay Appendix A. Number of Population
Gatbuca, Calumpit, Bulacan may launch a seminar
that discusses the importance of segregation, health
hazards that might threat public health, and adverse
effects of improper waste disposal. This seminar will
help the residents to become more responsible
members of the community and knowledgeable on the
idea of a cleaner and better environment.

Monitoring and Evaluation

This component will give an update on

whether the project is doing fine all throughout.
Appendix B. Survey Questionnaires
6. CONCLUSION

Proper solid waste collection is important

for the protection of public health, safety and
environmental quality. Through the application of
Environmental Engineering principle, the researcher
was able to develop some alternative solution that may
help to minimize if not eliminated the improper waste
disposal. Also, to improve their solid waste
management program which ensures greater positive
impact to the environment and to the community as
well. Appendix C. Solid Waste

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, the researchers would

like to thank our Almighty God for the knowledge and
wisdom, and everything that He provided. Without it
all, the study will be nothing.

Second, the researcher would like to give

their gratitude and appreciation to their professor,
Engr. Dyan G. Rodriguez, for teaching them the
subject Environmental Engineering.

Third, the researcher would like to thank the

barangay secretary of Gatbuca, Calumpit, Bulacan for
providing some information of the community.

Fourth, to the residents who honestly

answered the survey questionnaires that will help to
make this study more reliable.

Fifth, to the friends and colleagues of the

researchers, who unselfishly lend their hands and
offered help while making the study.

And lastly, the researchers would like to

give her deepest acknowledgement and appreciation
5
REFERENCES

Addis Continental Institute of Public Health (2015)

Situational Analysis of Urban Sanitation and
Waste Management, Strengthening Ethiopia’s
Urban Health Program, John Snow, Inc.,Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia
http://www.jsi.com/JSIInternet/Inc/Common/_do
wnload_pub.cfm?id=15883&lid=3

Basha, T. (2007) ‘Is privatization an option for a better

municipal solid waste management of Addis
Ababa?’, Municipal Solid Waste Management in
Addis Ababa
http://www.academia.edu/3319471/Municipal_so
lid_waste_management_in_Addis_Ababa

Forum for Environment/UNEP (2010), Solid Waste

Characterization and Quantification of Bahir Dar
City for the Development of an ISWM Plan,
http://www.fmhaca.gov.et/documents/Healtcare%
20Waste%20management.pdf

Tadesse, T. (2004) Solid and Hazardous Waste

Management: Lecture Notes for Environmental
Sciences Students, Gonder University.
http://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/healt
h/ephti/library/lecture_notes/env_health_science
_students/ LN_Solid_Haz_Waste_final.pdf

Tchobanoglous, G. and Kreith, F. (2002). Handbook

of Solid Waste Management, 2nd edn.,

6
 BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY
City of Malolos, Bulacan
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Rubric for the Assessment of the Study

IMPROVING THE GARBAGE COLLECTIO SYSTEM OF

BARANGAY GATBUCA, CALUMPIT, BULACAN

Karen A. Asahar
BSIE 4B

Ratin
1 2 3 4 5
g
DOCUMENTATION
The information
The information
Organization
of Materials

was very
The information The information The information was organized
organized and
collected was collected was was somewhat and contained
contained in
not relevant. not organized. organized. in recognizable
recognizable
sections.
sections.
The study The study
The study The study
Presentation of

The study was contained little contained

contained contained more
Material

contrary to graphics and graphics and

graphics and graphics and
established paragraphs that paragraphs that
paragraphs that paragraphs that
guidelines/ were not were not
were correctly were correctly
format. correctly correctly
formatted. formatted.
formatted. formatted.
The study is
The study The study
The study well written and
Grammar and Clarity

communicates communicates
effectively ideas are well
The study is ideas ideas
communicates developed and
poorly written adequately. The adequately. The
ideas. The explained.
and confusing. study contains study contains
writing is Sentences and
Ideas are not some some
grammatically paragraphs are
communicated grammatical grammatical
correct, but grammatically
effectively. errors. Many errors. Some
some sections correct. Uses
sections lack sections lack
lack clarity. subheadings
clarity. clarity.
appropriately.
SUB-TOTAL

7
 1 2 3 4 5 Rating
FEASIBILITY
The abstract is
The abstract
well organized
The abstract is has an
The abstract is The abstract and has a tight
Abstract
somewhat organizational
not appropriate lacks focus or and cohesive
focused or has structure and
to the contains major focus that is
minor drifts in the focus is
document. drifts in focus. integrated
the focus. clear
throughout the
throughout.
document.
Provides Provides
Provides
Assumptions

Provides no inappropriate or Provides few clearly

adequate
assumption to insufficient assumptions to appropriate
assumptions to
support assumptions to support assumptions to
support
position support position support
position
position position.
The Identifies
methodologies appropriate
Identifies
described are methodologies
appropriate
either not suited The and research Identifies
Methodology

methodologies
to the study. methodologies techniques but appropriate
and research
The described are many details methodologies
techniques but
methodology is either poorly are missing or and research
some details are
under- suited to study. vague. The techniques.
missing or
developed methodology is
vague.
and/or is not largely
feasible. incomplete.
Provides Provides
Provides
Supporting

Provides no Provides little inappropriate or clearly

Evidence

adequate
evidence to evidence to insufficient appropriate
evidence to
support support evidence to evidence to
support
position position support support
position
position position
The results The results
discussed are clearly align
The results
consistent with with study
The statistics section is
The results hypotheses and hypotheses and
used are somewhat
section is under the data the data
inappropriate to developed.
developed. analytic plan. analytic plan.
test study Results section
Results section Tables are Tables are well
Results and Discussion

hypotheses. Or, is incomplete in

is incomplete in somewhat integrated and
results are that tables are
that tables are integrated and discussed in the
discussed somewhat
not integrated discussed in the section.
incorrectly or integrated, or
or preliminary section. Controls and
inappropriately. preliminary
analyses and Adequate preliminary
There is not a analyses and
statistical justification of analyses are
good statistical
controls are not preliminary well explained
correspondence controls are not
justified. analyses and and justified.
between the justified.
Results are not statistical The statistical
tables and the Results are
described controls. The results are
written sometimes
accurately. statistical discussed in a
document. described
results are sophisticated
accurately.
discussed and accurate
adequately. way.
SUB-TOTAL

8
 1 2 3 4 5 Rating
Provides a
sophisticated
Adequately
The integration integration of
integrates the
of the findings the findings
findings within
within the within the
the extant
extant literature extant
Integration and Analysis

The integration literature.

No integration is complete but literature.
of the findings Addresses how
of the findings not convincing Clarifies how
within the the findings
within the enough to the findings
extant literature prove the
extant prove the prove the
is superficial or feasibility of
literature. Fails feasibility of feasibility of
incomplete to the study.
to attend to the study. the study.
prove the Attends to
issues of Poorly justifies Addresses
feasibility of issues of
feasibility. the strengths, strengths,
the study. strengths,
weaknesses, weaknesses,
weaknesses,
and limitations and limitations
and limitations
of the current of the current
of the current
study. study
study.
accurately and
insightfully.
The manuscript
References and Citations

has several
instances of
Properly cited.
improper use of Properly and
May have a few
The manuscript The manuscript citations. explicitly cited.
instances in
has no lacks proper Contains Reference list
which proper
citations. citations. several matches
citations are
statements citations
missing.
without
appropriately
citing.
SUB-TOTAL

TOTAL

Evaluated By:

Dyan G. Rodriguez, PIE, ASEAN Engr.