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E-International Scientific Research JournalISSN: 2094-1749 Volume: 2 Issue: 4, 2010ResultsTable 3 shows the mean volume of wastes produced by the barangays over a seven-dayobservation period classified by type and by disposal method. Note that there were someuncertainties noted as to the responses of the key informants with respect to the waste disposalpractices. The researchers triangulated the responses by asking at least two other members ofthe households (independently of the main informant). If two of the three informants agreed onthe manner in which their garbage are disposed, then that particular waste disposal practice isnoted in the table below. The two other members of the household interviewed were those whowere less likely to lie (i.e. no motive to lie).Table 3: Volume of Wastes by Type of WastesSource Description MeanVolumePer DayWood/Paper/YardTrimmings/TextilesBiodegradables/Common TrashCombustionNon-CombustionCombustionNon-Combustion20185083StandardError ofthe Mean3.502.005.252.50RemarksUncertainties inresponses maybe present-Plastics/Styrofoams/RubberCombustionNon-Combustion5331.254.50-Aluminum/Steel/Tin/Copper/Cans/BottlesCombustionNon-Combustion03806.70 -Batteries/Old Machines Combustion 10 2.50 -Non-CombustionTable 4 shows the net GHG output based on the average daily output of each type ofwaste and each type of waste disposal (combustion and non-combustion):Table 4: Total GHG Ouput Per Type of Waste/GarbageWaste CO 2GramsMethaneGramsNitreousoxideGramsWood/Paper/Yard Trimmings/Textiles 29260 2.44 0.94Biodegradables/Common Trash 89820 19.11 14.79Plastics/Styrofoams/Rubber 1000 2500 500Aluminum/Steel/Tin/Copper/Cans/Bottles 0 0 0Batteries/Old Machines 0 0 0TOTAL 120080 2521.55 515.73312
E-International Scientific Research JournalISSN: 2094-1749 Volume: 2 Issue: 4, 2010DiscussionsThe average daily GHG emissions from the barangays show an output of about 120 kgof CO2, 2.52 kg of methane and 0.515 kg of nitreous oxide per day. Over a regular one-yearperiod these translate to : 43.80 kilo-tons of CO2, 0.92 kilo-ton of methane and 0.20 kilo-ton ofnitreous oxide just for the nine barangays of Dapitan City. We can extrapolate on the figures ifwe consider the entire city and its designated landfill area. The figures could easily inflate by afactor of 10 i.e. roughly 438 kilo-tons of CO2, 25.2 kilo-tons of methane and 5.15 kilo-tons ofnitreous oxide. With the growing population of the City (estimated at roughly 2.6% perannum), the corresponding volume of garbage and wastes will double within the next 15 yearsand, hence, so will the emission of harmful GH gases into the atmosphere.However, much of this volume of GH gases can be attributed to the poor wastemanagement practices of the households in the barangays. For instance, if open burning isstrictly prohibited, the average daily GH emissions can be reduced by as much as 25% andwith other mitigating practices such as closed composting and waste segregation, the GHemissions can be further reduced to 50% of its current levels. Stricter implementation ofordinances and laws governing waste management and disposal needs to be observed if thesituation is to be arrested within the next few years.One possible reason for the rather loose implementation and adherence of people toproper waste management ordinances is their lack of understanding and appreciation of theselaws. For instance, the harmful gases emitted from either natural process or by burning thewastes are not seen as harmful by the ordinary citizen. In fact, in the old belief and tradition,burning of such wastes is considered a good practice for driving away mosquitoes. Drivingaway harmful mosquitoes for them is a far more urgent matter than lessening the release ofharmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The issue really boils down to satisfying apresent need (protecting ones health) versus mitigating a slow, gradual and largely unnoticedclimate change. For this reason, an effective educational intervention program will have to becrafted simultaneously focusing on (a.) addressing their health concerns such as driving awaymosquitoes and bugs, and (b.) the harmful effects of greenhouse gases to the ozone layer. Ifthese issues are clarified and well-understood by the citizens of the City, then compliance tothe waste management ordinances will be greatly enhanced.The greenhouse gas contribution of open dumping of iron, steel, old machines andbatteries could not be quantified in the present study since no conversion factors are availablein the literature. However, we suspect that these waste materials deteriorate over time throughnatural processes and also give off a significant amount of harmful greenhouse gases in theatmosphere knowing that iron and other such metals react with free oxygen and nitrogen in theatmosphere. This, of course, will be a matter for the chemists and environmentalists to dealwith in future studies. We nonetheless wish to stress the urgency of such a quantificationprocedure since more and more of this type of waste products are being produced at thehousehold level e.g. discarded cellular phones, radio batteries, and others.Finally, more than 95% of the greenhouse gas emissions from the household wastes iscarbon dioxide (CO2). This gas is naturally needed by plants for their photosynthetic processeswith oxygen as a by-product. Thus, if more plants and trees were planted in the backyards ofthese households, then the amount of CO2 directly released to the atmosphere could be furtherreduced. Perhaps, this can be implemented as part of the waste management protocols that willbe crafted by the City Officials.313
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