Solid waste management has been a problem in many municipalities, and Tampilisan Zamboanga del Norte is among them. Lacking a dumpsite and many of its citizens’ unawareness on how to properly dispose of their waste adds to the problem. So, what really composes barangay New Dapitan’s waste? To find out, a Waste Analysis Characterization Study was done. Initiated by Kim Faye Quimson and Nisreen Teo, the project heads for Solid Waste Management, the activity began on January 13 and commenced on January 20. Using a method based from the Municipal Solid Wastes Management in Developing Countries developed by Imanol Zabaleta, the activity aimed to identify and quantify the solid wastes that are used daily by the residents of the barangay. It differentiated solid wastes into biodegradable, non-biodegradable (residuals, bottles, cans and glass).
Thirty households joined the activity, with some households even going out of their way to put out sacks and with labelling them according to the waste.
On a positive note, the households became aware of their wastes. As the days went by, we noticed that peoples’ wastes became less and less. May this activity open their eyes that they can do their part to reduce their solid wastes.