Composting As a Suited Tool to Enhance Waste Management In Rural Areas in the Philippines
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Authors:
J. G. Paul & L. Cadiz (AHT Group AG)
R.J. Flora (Agriculture Office, Municipality of Buenavista, Guimaras)
M. Buquiran (CENRO, Bais City, Negros Oriental)
J.D. Palma (CENRO, Passi City, Iloilo)
[Excerpt from Summary]
Solid waste has become a major environmental problem for growing towns and cities in low income countries. Especially in rural municipalities, the solid waste generation is commonly dominated by organic residues. However, the importance of proper waste segregation and recycling of organic waste and the related benefits for agriculture and environment are still underestimated in many municipalities in the Philippines. Although the legal framework promotes material recovery and recycling and especially demands the establishment of a recycling component in every community, composting remains a scattered and low efficient waste management practice so far.
To explore options for the promotion of composting, three pilot projects for municipal composting were established with the joint support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and official development assistance through the German Technical Cooperation and the German Development Service on the Islands Negros, Guimaras and Panay, which are located in the Western Visayas, Philippines.
Based on the presented case studies, the benefits of composting for the environment and the local waste management systems can clearly be delineated. However, regarding municipal composting projects depend on development assistance, especially during the starting phase, to support investments, project planning, expert development and operation.
Although the studied composting projects are positively recognized on the local level, a sustainable operation seems hardly feasible based on the gathered economic data. Nevertheless, considering the overall cost-benefits of composting, it can be recommended to subsidize municipal composting projects and to promote household and small-scale composting on the local level. Hence, a rural municipality may well harvest ample benefits in various social and ecological aspects such as increased environmental awareness, project participation, additional livelihood projects, improved agricultural practices, value adding for agricultural products through organic farming and reduced waste volume for collection and disposal of domestic type waste. Besides, waste avoidance and reuse of materials are part of good governance, since the Philippine Waste Management Law tasks the Local Governement Units to be the main responsible entities to implement the waste management law.
