CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

Improper disposal of waste is very evident in every country, as trash can be seen

everywhere in every area. Indeed, in the Pacific Ocean, there is an island called "Plastic

Island" twice the size of Texas, which was created by dumping trash in the water.

Moreover, the amount of trash collected has tripled since 1960.

In most developing countries such as the Philippines, people have a poor

implementation of garbage disposal since they are more focused on the idea of civilizing

the nation, overlooking the implementation and utilization of the use of laws that will

support the nature. Sadly, some developed countries have smuggled tons of garbage to

the Philippines to get rid of their wastes. It is very alarming since it is not just made of

recyclable materials but also household wastes including plastic bottles and used adult

diapers. In Metro Manila, it is estimated that 8,636 tons of garbage is generated per day.

The sources of these wastes are mainly from the household and 95% of it can still be

reused or recycled (43%) or turned into compost (52%). Only 5% of these are made up

residuals and special hazardous wastes (1%) can no longer be usable or

biodegradable. (Castillo, 2012)

Batangas City is known to have a lot of barangays where we can catch sight of tons of

waste on the side of the roads. Even though plastics are strictly prohibited in the city,

people are still experiencing floods after the rain or storm. In this, it is noticeable that

such laws are already implemented but the only problem is the people because they

don’t seem to dispose of the trash correctly that is why the trash is being clogged in the

canals.

Here in University of Batangas, proper waste disposal is a must. This thing is

practiced by all of the students in the university but it also a problem at the same time
because most of the Brahmans aren’t disposing of their trash properly. Many students of

different places are entering the university every day, and for sure all of them are aware

that they need to throw their trash in the right bin. Labels in the trash cans sometimes

are being disregarded because most students are just throwing their trash to the

nearest trash can opening to them. Even though the university is providing samples on

what trash should be in different bins, in the end of the day there are still mixed wastes

in a specific trash can. Proper waste disposal should not be a problem at all for the

students of University of Batangas since they are more aware about the population and

its effects. The students can practice proper waste management which not only benefit

the school’s overall environment but it also practices the students to be disciplined in

everything that they will do. The teachers can also lessen their work when it comes to

disposing and preserving the privacy of each person that is involved in the process of

action, just like official documents and many more.

The Junior High School will play a big part because they will be the one who will

put the trash into the trash bin and shred the wastes to create a new material like eco-

bricks and recyclable chairs for plastic waste and fertilizers for paper waste.

Furthermore, the presence of the plastics and papers in the university are widespread

and it needs solution to prevent it from aggravating. Not only that, the teachers and the

maintenance will not waste their time shredding the papers and cutting the plastics into

pieces before selling them. In that way, the improper waste management that are

present in the Junior High School will be eradicated.

In accordance to the widespread of this threat, the researchers have visualized

the use of shredders which then will be attached to a trash can that shreds

biodegradable and non-biodegradable material for it to be used as a new existing

product. With this machine, the space for the garbage will be maximized due to a whole

lot of more free spaces in the trash bags. Thus, having less consumption of plastics for

the disposal of garbage. Instead of a bulky trash bags, compacted materials will be the
result of this study underlying the improvement of waste management through the

invention of improvised garbage shredding machine.

Because of the presence improper waste disposal is apparent in the university,

this opens up to the idea that students within the school premises will respond to

garbage disposal in a more curious, entertaining, and informative manner. Having such

fully functional shredder machine along the corridors, Ubians will be exposed to a more

eco-friendly environment in school, it will surely plant a seed to student's minds and

eventually be inspired to come up with their upcoming research that the UB community

would benefit from.

Not only that, every trashes that will be shredded in the improvised machine will

contribute a lot to the environment since it can be used in useful materials such as

wooden chairs that can be used by the students in school and an additive in creating

cement that will be used in constructing houses.

Furthermore, the teachers can also use the shredder machine in teaching the

students to practice the 5R’s which is the reuse, reduce, recycle, reprocess, recover.

With this, the students today or in the future generation can widen their perspective in

protecting the mother nature.