Solid Waste Management in Plaridel, Bulacan

The objective of this project is to assist the municipality of Plaridel in further developing its solid waste management system. Plaridel’s short and medium term goals involve transitioning to a more decentralized solid waste management system and decreasing the volume of residual waste through materials recovery facilities (MRFs). These goals are ultimately tied to its vision of transitioning the municipality into an agro-industrial city in the next few years. This document recommends focusing on a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach utilizing strategic communication (oriented toward lasting behavioral change), economic incentives (pricing of waste based on its disposal costs) and enforcement in order to meet these goals.

The paper recommends, foremost, a renewed public education campaign that emphasizes a fundamental change in the way Plaridelenos regard waste. Much of the existing educational material has focused on “how” to segregate or compost, but relatively little has focused on the question of “why”. The most successful barangays are those that have committed the most effort to public education, especially through direct dialogue. Therefore, methods suggested at the barangay level focus on education through door-to-door discussions. At the municipal level, we recommend greatly renewed visibility of SWM as a priority, including more visible public bins, information officers in public places, and an intensification of the IEC with emphasis on why SWM is important instead of how it can be done.  

Economic and regulatory methods of waste reduction are premised on a “polluter pays” principle. In most cases this idea is more politically palatable than other forms of regulation as it tends to tax the largest consumers the most. Measures suggested in the report include the pricing of waste, especially residual waste. Plastic bags are a particular problem, and this paper recommends that over the medium and long-term, regulatory measures are taken to tax the distribution of plastic bags and to encourage alternate, reusable bag-types.

Enforcement does not appear to be a priority in Plaridel. However, enforcement is fundamental to program success, as it demonstrates political will, increases compliance, and where financial penalties are involved, provides a source of revenue. We therefore recommend increasing policing powers at the municipal and barangay levels, and creating revenue-generating opportunities through fines and ticketing. Such a program should only begin after the renewed strategic communication and public education campaign is well underway, or it will likely engender resentment.