IT WOULD not be surprising if the problem of garbage disposal crops up now and then in every newspaper column. One can almost be sure that residents plug their noses to local officials who are the policy makers and responsible in finding ways to solve the garbage disposal issue.

The problem of course, is not only for local officials. City residents can be held equally liable for this community blight. Garbage is something that you cannot stop, you can only get rid of it. It means disposing garbage in proper places and collecting them regularly or using other alternatives to minimize garbage.

Arrangements for proper disposal should be made before it's too late. Public awareness and educating the people against the reckless handling of wastes to protect one's health are necessary.

Scientific studies proved that inhaling, ingesting, or having skin contact with chemical wastes can result to cancer, birth defects, and damage to the nervous system.

Recycling

In Dumaguete City the City Government is encouraging residents to recycle their wastes. Recycling involves a series of activities that includes collecting recyclable materials that would otherwise be considered waste, sorting and processing recyclables into raw materials, and manufacturing materials into new products. Recyclables include paper and all paper products, all kinds of plastics, whole and broken bottles, car batteries, tin cans, galvanized iron sheets and other metals.

The first step in the recycling process is collecting and processing. This involves collecting recyclables that vary from community to community. There are primary methods: drop-off centers, buy-back centers, and deposit and refund programs. Recyclables are sent to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted and prepared into marketable commodities for manufacturing. Recyclables are bought and sold like other commodities.

Step two is manufacturing. Once cleaned and separated, the recyclables are ready to undergo the second part of the recycling process. Recycled materials are used in innovative applications.

The last step is purchasing recycled products. By "buying recycled" items, government as well as business and individual consumers, play an important role in making the recycling process a success. As more consumers demand more environment-friendly products, manufacturers will continue to meet that demand by producing high quality recycled products.

Recycling in Dumaguete City started in 2000 when Ordinance No. 115, the Integrated Solid Waste Management Program authored by City Councilor Manuel Patrimonio was approved by the City Council.

Dick Encabo, coordinator of the city's Urban Forestry Management Development (UFMD) office, said his office has conducted series of seminar-workshops on Solid Waste Management in the barangays through barangay officials.

"Anything that can be recycled like plastics can be made into candles, floor wax or decorative products. We encourage them to practice segregating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste," Encabo said.

Encabo said Calindagan is the pilot barangay for solid waste management in Dumaguete City. It has a cooperative to implement the entrepreneurial system of solid waste management. The barangay started the cooperative with the barangay councilors as initial members. The cooperative is not exclusive to residents of Calindagan. To become a member, an applicant must be a resident of Dumaguete City. The cooperative recycles all the recyclable materials deposited by its members at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Each member has a bankbook. Its logo is "Basura Ko, Savings Ko."

"The recycling project is 80 to 85 percent effective. Before 60 tons of solid waste were dumped daily at the dumpsite, but now only 28 tons are disposed there. People are aware of solid waste management because of education and enforcement," he said.

The principle of solid waste management is "reuse recycle, reduce waste." Dumaguete City has become a center for "Lakbay aralan" in the country. Other local government units visit the city to observe and see its recycling projects.

This system reduces the amount of waste disposed and results in cost saving and energy resource conservation. Resource recovery is has become a regular activity to.

Recycling reduces pressure at the dumpsite and conserves natural resources. It saves the government the cost of hauling garbage from each household.

Recycling, as an alternative approach to solid waste management, entails changes in lifestyle, attitude, and behavior. It underscores the participation of the people as agents of change and the need to ensure that development is directed towards the benefits of the people.

"Waste is resource that has not yet found its right place," say experts.

Meantime garbage keeps piling up. People easily forget their obligation -- until the stench and flies start coming.