Waste

Waste
Waste has been defined as a moveable object with
no direct use that is discarded permanently. There are
many different kinds of waste, including solid, liquid,
gaseous, hazardous, radioactive, and medical.

Wastes can also be defined by generator, for

example, municipal, commercial, industrial, or
agricultural.
 Solid Waste
(RA 9003)
Refer to all discarded household, commercial waste, non-
hazardous institutional and industrial waste, street
sweepings, construction debris, agriculture waste, and
other non-hazardous/non-toxic solid waste

Not included are hazardous, infectious, and mine wastes

 Municipal Solid Waste
Refer to wastes produced from activities within local
government units, which include a combination of domestic,
commercial, institutional and industrial wastes and street
litters
 Agricultural Solid Waste

Refer to waste generated from planting or harvesting of crops,

trimming or pruning of plants and wastes or run-off materials
from farms or fields
 Commercial Solid Waste
Refer to waste generated from stores, hotels, restaurants, or
offices
 Industrial Solid Waste
Refer to waste generated from light and heavy manufacturing,
fabrication, construction, power ,or chemical plants
 Institutional Solid Waste
Refer to waste generated from schools, prison, church or
government facilities.
 Construction Solid Waste
Refer to waste generated from construction debris.
 Electronic Solid Waste
Refer to waste generated from appliances and gadgets.
Hazardous Solid Waste
Hospital Solid Waste
In Summary
Waste Characterization
Integrated solid waste management (ISWM) planning,
like any other planning activity, requires a good analysis of
the current situation to provide a firm basis for critical
planning decisions.

At the start of ISWM planning, it is important to know

who the waste generators are, where they are located,
how much and what types of waste they generate, and
what their current knowledge, attitudes, practices and
experiences are on SWM.
These information are crucial to the development of the key
strategies and components of an ISWM plan:
(a) Communication and education interventions (e.g., who are priority target
groups? what is their current SWM knowledge level?);

(b) Enforcement strategies (e.g., who are priority target groups? what will
motivate them to comply? who are appropriate enforcers?);

(c) Physical facilities (e.g., what is volume of waste for collection? how many
trucks will be needed? What is available for composting? for disposal? What
are types of recyclables? will materials recovery facilities or MRFs be needed
in all barangays?); and

(d) Financing (e.g., is payment of fees for garbage collection services

acceptable? can revenues be generated from the processing or trading of
waste materials?)
The initial assessment will also provide the baseline
data that can be the basis for the future evaluation of
the changes and impacts of the ISWM program.

Republic Act (RA) 9003, otherwise known as the

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act requires Local
Government Units (LGUs) to prepare 10-year SWM
plans. Part of their task is to conduct an activity called
the Waste Analysis and Characterization Study or WACS.
Section 17 of the Act defines waste characterization as “the
identification of constituent materials which comprise solid
waste generated and disposed of within an area. It identifies
constituent materials by volume, percentage in weight or its
volumetric equivalent, material type and source of generation
which includes residential, commercial, industrial and
institutional.”

 The Act further provides the basic method for doing the
WACS, the final result of which is a set of data that shows the per
capita and total waste generation and composition of such waste
in a particular LGU. ISWM plans submitted to the National Solid
Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) for review and
approval are expected to include a discussion of the WACS results.
The key features of the recommended WACS approach
are:

• It has an implementation period of at least three

days. The shift from seven days to a shorter period is
supported by a statistical analysis which showed no
significant differences between the seven-day and
three-day WACS data of 49 EcoGov-assisted LGUs (10
cities and 39 municipalities).
The key features of the recommended WACS approach
are:
It looks at both ends of the waste stream – waste generation at source,
and waste at the “end of the pipe” (i.e., the waste that are collected and
brought to the disposal area).

 The study intends to provide an estimate of the waste that “leaks out” of
the stream or the “unaccounted waste.”

This refers to generated waste that are uncollected and therefore disposed
in backyards, open spaces, rivers and creeks.

LGUs with no waste collection services will focus its WACS on waste
generation at source.
The key features of the recommended WACS approach
are:
WACS generates these basic data for planning:

Waste generation at source (e.g., per unit and total per source)

Total waste generation within collection area and in the whole LGU

Composition of waste generated at source

Volume and composition of waste brought to the disposal site

Potential percentage of waste for diversion at source and at disposal

site

Percentage of generated waste within collection area that are not

collected or accounted for (i.e., wastes not reaching the disposal facility).
The key features of the recommended WACS approach
are:
 Waste generation at source is estimated with samples from two types of
waste generators: households and non-households. Non-household sources
include public markets, general stores, food establishments, industries,
institutions, recreation centers, service centers and health-related facilities.

 Sample waste generators are taken from within a defined sampling area,
which normally cover the urban and urbanizing barangays with collection
services. Sampling is stratified according to income level (for households) or
size of operations (for non-households) and geographic location.
The key features of the recommended WACS approach
are:

In LGUs where there are special waste-related interests or

concerns such as proximity of coastal settlements to marine key
biodiversity areas, existence of industrial/economic zones, and
presence of large agricultural plantations, the process of
sample selection may be adjusted to include the concerned
barangay or a representative barangay in the sampling area.
The key features of the recommended WACS approach
are:

The end-of-pipe waste study looks at existing

waste collection routes and one truck for every
distinct route and schedule is selected as a
sample.

At source and end-of-pipe waste are

characterized into four waste types:
biodegradable, recyclable, residual, and special
waste.
The key features of the recommended WACS approach
are:
 LGUs which are unable to do actual WACS are given the
option to use “representative” data. This means the adoption,
fully or partially, of the WACS data of another LGU with similar
socio-economic conditions. LGUs who decide to adopt this are
made aware of the pros and cons of this approach.

 Standard results are generated from the use of a series of

linked MS Excel templates or spreadsheets. In addition to
facilitating data processing, use of standard templates allows the
data (raw and processed) to be stored and accessed
systematically. This, likewise, ensures that data generated at
different time periods (i.e., for performance evaluation) will be
comparable.
The key features of the recommended WACS approach
are:
It encourages the participation of various sectors and
stakeholders. EcoGov experience showed that doing WACS with
the active participation of municipal/city and barangay officials,
youth groups, market vendors associations, schools and other
sectors generates local ownership of the information and greater
support for SWM program implementation as stakeholders
develop a better appreciation of the current situation.

The feedback of WACS results to LGU decision-makers and key

stakeholders forms part of the overall process, designed to
strengthen the good governance systems of LGUs.
 There are three stages in carrying out the WACS

• Preparation and Training describes the activities needed to ensure that all
inputs and resources for the study are ready for the actual waste
characterization.

• Actual Waste Characterization provides detailed guidelines for the efficient

segregation and measurement of the different types of waste from sample
waste generators and the proper recording of data.

• Data Processing and Analysis explains and illustrates how the gathered
sample data are processed and analyzed for SWM planning.
 Preparation and Training
 Identification of Waste Sources and Defining Sampling
Area

The first step is to inventory all waste sources or generators within

the LGU and know their barangay location.
 Preparation and Training
 Sample Selection: Household and Non-Household Waste
Generators
In WACS, it is not necessary to survey all waste sources in the LGU.
A representative sample of waste sources found in the LGU’s inventory of
waste generators may be used to derive estimates
of the total waste generation within the collection area and the
entire LGU.
For small to medium LGUs, it is recommended that total sample size for
households be at least 30. A sample size of
30 provides ample allowance for other sampling considerations.
It may consider a sample size greater than 30 households but must bear in
mind that a bigger sample size will entail more expenses and time to complete
the study.

The size of the non-household sample will depend on the number

and geographic spread of the waste generators in the LGU.
 Preparation and Training
Sample Selection: End-of-Pipe Waste

For the analysis of end-of-pipe waste, the recommended

sample is the whole truckload of waste for disposal. This
means that all the waste materials contained in one truck,
whether full or not, are sorted and measured.
 Preparation and Training
Selection of Sample Days

The three-day study period should cover at least one

market day, one ordinary day and one weekend. Waste
generators are expected to have different waste generation
patterns on these days. If the LGU has two market days,
four days are recommended so both market days are
covered. It is further suggested that the study be done in
consecutive days, for example, Thursday to Saturday or
Sunday to Tuesday.
 Preparation and Training
Formation and Training of the WACS Team
The LGU has to constitute a team that will be responsible for the
successful conduct of the actual characterization activity and initial data
processing. The team should be formed early enough so they can take
part in planning and preparing for the activity.

The WACS team can include members of the TWG, other LGU officials
and staff, barangay officials, national agency partners and stakeholders.

The team will be composed of the following: a team leader, a logistics in-
charge, recorders, weighers/scalers, sorters and waste collectors, and
data processors. Subteams composed of one recorder, one
weigher/scaler and several sorters will be assigned to specific waste
sources (e.g., households, public market).

The size of the full team will depend on the sample size, length of the
study period, and available LGU resources.
 Preparation and Training
Selection and Preparation of the Waste Segregation Site

A suitable site for the waste segregation activity is one that is roofed (or
can be covered by canvass sheets), has good ventilation (i.e., not
enclosed by walls on all sides), and is accessible. The site must be big
enough to allow simultaneous sorting of waste from various sources. The
team must prepare a layout of the site to show where sub-teams will be
stationed. This will also facilitate the bringing in and out of the waste
samples.
 Preparation and Training
Preparation of the waste collection and waste disposal plan

The main responsibility of the waste collectors of the WACS team is to ensure the efficient
collection and delivery of waste samples from different cooperators to the waste segregation
site. These activities are suggested for the preparation of a waste collection plan.

1. Study the geographic distribution of the selected cooperators and their relative distances from
the waste characterization site.

2. Determine the most efficient collection routes and the number of trips that have to be taken
to complete the collection of all samples within a given time period (e.g., 8:00 am to 10:00 am).

3. Determine the appropriate vehicle or vehicles to use for sample collection.

4. If needed, conduct a dry run to locate the cooperators and establish the actual travel time.

5. Discuss the fi nal schedules and routes with the assigned drivers and collectors.
 Preparation and Training
Acquisition and preparation of tools, materials and other
resources for waste characterization

WACS will require a budget for the procurement of the needed tools,
materials, supplies and fuel for the collection vehicles. All those who take
part in the waste characterization activity will also need food and water.

A WACS with 80 to 100 samples would cost P50,000 to P75,000. This cost
estimate assumes that not all materials and tools are purchased.

LGUs can minimize costs by borrowing needed tools (e.g., weighing scales,
shovels, rake) or making use of available materials (e.g., used tarpaulin as
sorting mats).
 The items that should be procured or secured before the activity are listed below:

• Sorting tools and materials • Measuring tools

· Tongs · Calibrated receptacles: 15-20 L and
· Garden trowels/fork 60-100 L capacity plastic pails
· Spading fork and shovel · Weighing scales (10 kg capacity for
· Rakes waste from household and
· Laminated sacks (to be used as establishments; 50 kg capacity
sorting mats) for market and end-of-pipe
waste)
· Garbage bags

• Protective Gears • Others

· Rubber gloves · Tables and chairs
· Masks · First aid kit
· Boots (for the sorters) · Drinking water and food
· Hats
Other pre-event activities that need to be done are:
 Preparation and Training

Orientation of Cooperators

Preparation for Data Processing

 Actual Waste Characterization

This stage covers the sequence of activities that are undertaken

to determine the weight, volume and composition of the waste
that are generated by different sources. It starts with the
collection of the waste from the source and ends with the quality
control of data entry forms prior to data processing.

Those involved in this part of the study go through the tedious

task of sorting and measuring various waste samples. This
requires real teamwork.
Characterizing Household and Non-Household Waste

Waste collectors should check if the bags (biodegradable and

nonbiodegradable) are complete and properly labelled
before collecting them
Characterizing Household and Non-Household Waste

Recording..Weighing..Recording
Characterizing Household and Non-Household Waste

Verifying..Segregation...Weighing..Recording
Characterizing Market and End-of-pipe Waste

Collection and Transport

Characterizing Market and End-of-pipe Waste

Segregation, Weighing, and Recording

Characterizing Market and End-of-pipe Waste

Transporting to Disposal Facility

Data Processing and Analysis