Two recent typhoons have again brought the message of the importance of solid waste management. Specifically, it highlighted the fact that people’s behavior has much to do with the problem and yet, it can also provide a long-term solution.
Improper disposal of garbage has been identified as one of the major causes of the recent floodings that severely affected the lives of people, especially those living in Metro Manila. Flooded streets stopped the flow of traffic. Floodwaters damaged houses and vehicles. It has brought water-borne diseases, such as leptospirosis, which caused many deaths. These are now familiar scenes after a heavy rainfall.
After Typhoon Carina in July and Typhoon Enteng in early September, these sad scenes resurfaced. Many photos and videos of tons of garbage, mostly plastic packaging, clogging drainage, flood control systems and rivers presented the problem in stark reality.
These were not the only times that the irresponsible disposal of garbage has been identified as a major cause of floods. After every typhoon dumps heavy rains, the floodwaters rise, and there are reports of the number of tons of garbage, mostly plastics, collected from waterways.
It’s as if people have not learned a lesson from the past typhoons.
“Cleanup is a step toward a long-term solution,” declares the Climate Change Commission (CCC) in line with the observation of National Cleanup Month.
It is not an easy step to take, though, as government agencies tasked to manage solid waste have experienced. Until now, the segregation of waste is not yet fully practiced by many households and the collection system not yet implemented in many barangays.
September should be a good time to organize community action to raise awareness on proper waste disposal and to initiate cleanup programs. It is National Cleanup Month as declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 244, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993. A separate proclamation had designated the third Saturday of September as National Cleanup Day.
“As climate change worsens, this National Cleanup Month reminds us that a clean environment is crucial for the health of our ecosystem. It is also an opportunity to encourage individuals, organizations, academe, and communities to take the initiative and engage in sustainable practices.”
“Community cleanups help enhance the resilience of our communities in several key ways: reduce pollution and floods, ignite climate action initiatives, and build local capacity for disaster response,” the CCC urged.
But more than just preventing floods, the CCC points out: “Inadequate waste management has become a major concern in building a climate-resilient community. Environmental degradation disrupts ecosystems and poses serious risks to public health and safety. Flooded streets, polluted waterways, and the heat-trapping effects of excessive waste contribute to more frequent and severe weather events, underscoring the urgent need for large-scale cleanup efforts.”
The CCC website presents these facts that should encourage more action from communities:
“The World Bank's 2021 report, ‘Market Study for the Philippines: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers,’ reveals the country's heavy reliance on single-use plastics, such as multilayer sachets and pouches. The Philippines consumes 163 million sachets daily. Each year, the country generates around 2.7 million tons of plastic waste, with an estimated 20 percent ending up in the ocean.”
We have to adopt better habits that will lead to efficient waste management practices. When the next typhoon dumps more rain, the floodwaters will come again.