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INTRODUCTION

Who would have thought that the mythical Mount Makiling, whose enchanted chronicle was
passed on from one generation to another, would become its town’s garbage dump? This scenario
alarmed local government units (LGUs) of Los Baños, Laguna that led to the strict implementation of the
Republic Act 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001.

According to Atienza (2008), Los Baños is “one of the model towns in solid waste management
in the Philippines.” This was made possible due to the initial efforts done by Mayor Caesar Perez, former-
mayor of Los Baños, Laguna, in 2001. He implemented the “Anti-littering and Waste Segregation
Program”, a program that supports Ecological Solid Waste management Act of 2001 (Republic Act
9003), that oblige inhabitants of the municipality to separate biodegradable from non-biodegradable
wastes, planned collection of these garbage, and most of all, strict penalization for those who will not
abide the municipal ordinance.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will enable government officials of Los Baños, Laguna to have a quick check
regarding the status quo of the municipal ordinance on waste segregation in their community. Moreover,
it can help LGUs in identifying reasons for the compliance and non-compliance of residents on this order.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study generally aims to determine the level of effectiveness of the “Anti-littering and Waste
Segregation Program” in Lopez Avenue, Los Baños, Laguna among UPLB students and workers.
Furthermore, it attempts to identify the reasons that influence residents’ compliance with this municipal
ordinance.

HYPOTHESES

Null Hypotheses

1. The students of the University of the Philippines Los Baños comply with the municipal ordinance
regarding waste segregation more frequently than the workers.
2. There is no relationship between the purpose of recycling and the compliance of UPLB students
and workers with the municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.
3. There is no relationship between the desire to lessen community problems and the compliance of
UPLB students and workers with the municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.
4. There is no relationship between the availability of garbage cans and the compliance of UPLB
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students and workers with the municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.
5. There is no relationship between the time it takes to segregate wastes and the compliance of
UPLB students and workers with the municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.

Alternative Hypotheses

1. The workers in Lopez Avenue, Los Baños, Laguna comply with the municipal ordinance
regarding waste segregation more frequently than the students of the University of the Philippines
Los Baños.
2. There is a relationship between the purpose of recycling and the compliance of workers and
UPLB students with the municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.
3. There is a relationship between the lessening of community problems and the compliance of
workers and UPLB students with the municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.
4. There is a relationship between the availability of garbage cans and the compliance of workers
and UPLB students with the municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.
5. There is a relationship between the time it takes to segregate wastes and the compliance of
workers and UPLB students with the municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.

METHODOLOGY

The quantitative research method was used in this analysis. The relationship between independent
and dependent variables has to be ascertained and examined. The connection among several factors such
as recycling purposes, a person’s desire to lessen community problems, availability of garbage cans, time,
and UPLB students and workers’ compliance and non-compliance with the municipal ordinance
regarding waste segregation was the main focus of this study.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study is conducted at Lopez Avenue, Los Baños, Laguna. The respondents were limited to
the students of the University of the Philippines Los Baños and workers who lived in the mentioned
municipality.

OBSERVED DATA

Table 1. UPLB students’ compliance with the ordinance

SEGREGATE 7
DO NOT SEGREGATE 18

Out of 25 students, 28% segregate wastes while the remaining 72% do not segregate wastes.

Table 2. Students’ reasons for segregating wastes

RECYCLING PURPOSES 7
TO LESSEN COMMUNITY PROBLEMS 0

100% of the 7 students that segregate wastes do it for recycling purposes.

Table 3. Students’ reasons for not segregating wastes

LACK GARBAGE CANS 11

61% of the 18 students that do not segregate wastes do it because of the lack of available garbage cans .
33% of them do not do it because it is time-consuming, while 6% do not segregate wastes because he/she
is not brought up doing it.

Table 4. Workers’ compliance with the ordinance

SEGREGATE 20
DO NOT SEGREGATE 5

Out of 25 workers, 80% of them segregate wastes, while 20% do not.

Table 5. Workers’ reasons for segregating wastes

RECYCLING PURPOSES 14
TO LESSEN COMMUNITY PROBLEMS 6

70% of the 20 workers that segregate wastes do it for recycling purposes, while 30% of them do it to
lessen community problems.
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Table 6. Workers’ reasons for not segregating wastes

LACK GARBAGE CANS 3

60% of the 5 workers that do not segregate wastes do it because of the lack of available garbage cans,
while 40% of them do not do it because it is time-consuming.

DISCUSSIONS OF THE RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Based on the observed data,

1. There are a higher percentage of workers who segregate waste as compared to the
students.
2. All of the students who segregate waste do it for recycling purposes.
3. Most workers segregate wastes for recycling purposes.
4. Most of the students and workers do not segregate waste because there are not enough
garbage cans available in the Los Baños area.
5. There is a higher fraction of students who do not segregate waste as to the ones who does.

CONCLUSION

After comprehensively evaluating the data received from the respondents, the following conclusions were
drawn:

1. The workers in Lopez Avenue, Los Baños, Laguna comply with the municipal ordinance
regarding waste segregation more frequently than the students of the University of the Philippines
Los Baños.
2. Workers and students’ desire to recycle materials influences their compliance with the municipal
ordinance regarding waste segregation.
3. Workers and students’ desire to lessen community problems influences their compliance with the
municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.
4. The availability of garbage cans influences workers and students’ compliance with the municipal
ordinance regarding waste segregation.
5. The time it takes to segregate wastes influences workers and students’ compliance with the
municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation.

RECOMMENDATIONS
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The researchers encountered problems on interpreting results due to the several margin of errors
found on the survey forms. Interviews with government officials who are knowledgeable regarding the
municipal ordinance regarding waste segregation can help in the improvement of the results of the
investigation.