Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Annie Leonard, a well-known advocate for sustainability, once

stated, “There is no such thing as ’away.’ When we throw anything

away, it must go somewhere.” This highlights the growing concern

of solid waste management (SWM), especially in the Philippines and

other developing countries. The increasing amount of waste due to

rapid urbanization, changing consumer habits, and limited resources

makes waste disposal a pressing issue.

According to Dickella Gamaralalage (2013) Effective SWM is

crucial for sustainable development, environmental conservation,

and public health. One of the key challenges faced by schools is the

proper disposal of daily waste generated in classrooms and other

areas. At Puerto Elementary School in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis

Oriental, the Solid waste Management Committee (PESSWMC) is

dedicated to implementing Republic Act (R.A) 9003, which promotes

responsible and sustainable waste management. By following the

principles of this law, the school aims to minimize waste’s

environmental impact and create a cleaner, more sustainable

learning environment. Education plays a vital role in shaping

students' perspectives and behaviors regarding waste disposal.

instill environmental responsibility in students. In developing

nations, solid waste management (SWM) which includes actions to

reduce the negative effects of solid waste on the environment and

human health, is a major environmental concern. According to

Zurbruegg(2003) Public health problems and environmental

hazards can result from improper handling, storage, collection.

Effective waste management in schools is crucial to installing

environmental consciousness in kids. According to a study

conducted at San Pedro High School (Reyes, Almonte, and Cruz,

2021), pupils sorting and recycling skills improved significantly

when the school had an effective waste management system. The

study also noted that if you want a clean and environmentally

friendly school, it's important to keep teaching children about these

topics and involving them. Everyone must work together to manage

school waste effectively, including the principal, staff, instructors,

and students.

This was brought home by a 2021 study conducted by De

Guzman, Santos,and Dela Cruz at Quezon City High School. They

discovered that the school's garbage problem significantly improved

when kids were actively sorting and recycling. The importance of

continuous training and awareness initiatives to keep everyone

informed was also underlined by the researchers.

management practices of teenagers are crucial. Abdon and Farin's

2022 study, which examined schools in Zambales, the Philippines,

made this argument quite clear. They discovered that students play

a crucial role in recycling trash sorting, and ensuring that waste is

disposed of properly. The Department of Education's (2016) WinS

guidelines, which emphasize the necessity of robust policies to

support such practices, are in line with this. Another study,

conducted in 2023 by Kilaton, Aguilor, and Zamayla, examined

Grade 11 students in the Jasaan South District and found that active

waste management instruction has a significant impact on students'

behavior. When considering all of this information, it is evident that

educating high school students about solid waste management is

crucial to helping them form eco-friendly Behaviour. Understanding

students' current waste management practices can help identify

problem areas and develop targeted interventions for promoting

more sustainable habits.

This study focuses on how students at San Manuel National high

school manage solid waste. It aims to assess their attitudes,

behaviors, and knowledge regarding waste generation, disposal,

recycling, and segregation. By examining these aspects, the

research seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the school’s current

SWM programs and explore ways to enhance environmental

education. The findings will be valuable for school administrators,

strategies to improve SWM practices in schools while contributing to

broader efforts to address the country’s waste management

challenges. It's not a one-and-done thing, you have to stick with it.

The DENR's "Zero Waste School Program" (DENR, 2019) has also

been a great help, giving schools tools and a framework for

implementing sustainable waste management.

Additionally, research from Tarlac National High School

(Garcia & Mendoza, 2020) indicates that trying waste management

to what students are learning in class is a great way to go, as

children are more likely to become environmentally conscious when

they comprehend the larger picture how waste impacts the

environment and society. Therefore, all of these studies point to the

need for a comprehensive, community-wide approach within schools

(De Guzman, Santos, & Dela Cruz, 2021; Garcia & Mendoza, 2020).

Schools plays an important role in promoting environmental

sustainability by using eco-friendly designs, reducing waste and

managing resources wisely.

Simple actions like recycling, sorting waste properly, and

reducing plastic use in canteens can greatly Help in minimizing

waste.

In this study, we aim to understand how students manage their

waste, including how they dispose of, recycle, or reduce trash.

Waste management is important because it helps keep our

out if students are aware of proper waste disposal and what factors

affect their habits, such as school rules or the availability of trash

bins. Our goal is to analyze their actions and suggest ways to

improve waste management in schools so that we can all contribute

to a cleaner and healthier environment.

Statement Of The Problem

The way we manage waste has a significant impact on human

health and the condition of our world. The main goal of this study

project is to determine how San Manuel National High School

students dispose of their belongings. A few important aspects are

what we truly desire to comprehend:

1. How do students at San Manuel National High School currently

dispose of their waste?

2. What elements affect how pupils dispose of their waste?

3. What attitudes and views do the students have regarding

environmental sustainability and trash management?

Scope and Delimitation

The general intent of this qualitative study is to understand the

waste management practices of students. It aims to explore the

Philippines, identify common practices among students, and

propose possible solutions to improve waste management

effectively. The study will gather insights through interviews and

questionnaires, to obtain detailed data on the respondents.

The primary subject of this research will consist of all students

enrolled for the school year 2024-2025, from Junior High School

(Grades 7 to 10) to Senior High School students in the academic

strands of Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM),

Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS), and Technical-Vocational-

Livelihood (TVL). The study will be conducted at San Manuel

National High School, San Miguel, San Manuel, Tarlac.

Significance Of The Study

This study on waste management practices will benefit various

groups, including:

Students. The primary beneficiaries will be the students, as they

will learn to be more responsible in managing waste in their

everyday lives. With the knowledge they gain, they can improve

their habits and help promote a cleaner environment, not just in

school, but also at home and in their communities.

Parents. Parents will also benefit from the findings of this study, as
they can use the lessons learned by their children to improve waste

management practices at home. This will help spread responsible

waste disposal habits within the family, promoting a more

sustainable lifestyle in the household.

Teachers. Teachers will benefit from a better understanding of the

challenges students face regarding waste management. This will

enable them to design lessons and activities that are more relevant

to students' experiences and help foster positive changes in

behavior.

School. The school will benefit from the insights gained through the

study, which will help them improve and strengthen existing waste

management programs and activities. They will also be able to

create a cleaner and greener school environment through more

effective policies.

Future Researchers. Future researchers will find this study

valuable as a foundation for further research on waste management

practices and environmental awareness in schools, helping to shape

future studies or interventions.

Definition of terms

Awareness. Refers to the students’ understanding of the

importance of proper waste management, including recycling and

Waste. Refers to materials such as paper, plastic, and food

wrappers that are discarded because they are no longer needed or

useful.

Management. Refers to the practices students and the school use

to handle, sort, and dispose of waste responsibly.

Recycling. Refers to the process of collecting and reusing materials

like paper, plastic, and metal to reduce waste.

Segregation. Refers to the practice of sorting waste into

categories such as biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and

recyclable.

Disposal. Refers to the proper discarding of waste by placing it in

designated bins for either recycling or treatment.

Environmental Impact. Refers to the effect of waste management

practices on the surrounding environment, including pollution and

resource depletion.

Waste Management Practices. Refers to the actions and

behaviors students use to manage waste, including segregation,

recycling, and proper disposal.