A plethora of crisis has plagued solid waste management in Metro Manila. An estimated amount of 5,000-6,000 tons of solid waste is being generated daily. A recent study has estimated that it has escalated to 8,000-10,000 tons per day. If this remains unabated, we can only expect public health to deteriorate and our environment spoiled.

In an attempt to address the dilemma, our government has enacted the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. The Act mandates the adoption of a systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management program, which shall utilize environmentally sound methods to maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage resource conservation and recovery.

Non-government organizations and private businesses, in their efforts to support the objectives of the government, began educating the public on the merits of integrated solid waste management. In haste, many designed and constructed solid waste management facilities to be compliant with the new law. Many building managers facilitated the construction of additional waste management facilities within their jurisdictions not taking into consideration other existing building regulations. On the other hand, architects not aware with the new law, continue to use old design standards making their designs obsolete before it is even constructed.

Implementation Issues and the Building Industry

Efforts to implement the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act have been met with stiff opposition, participation and operational problems by the building industry.

This stems from the fact that ESWM is not a major priority in the building industry. With the current economic situation, levels of compliance vary greatly.

In Metro Manila, seldom do we see properties with spaces allotted for “future expansion”. When all of the building components are already in place, it is difficult to install ESWM facilities in spaces previously allocated for other purposes. Retrofitting, though required, is the least effective and least economical way to implement RA 9003. Taking into consideration ESWM concerns at the conceptual stage of the design greatly affects the success of an ESWM friendly building.

At the barangay level, siting issues are common. Material recovery facilities may be considered a nuisance especially if aesthetics are not considered during the design stage.

The building industry is yet to resolve the financial viability of retrofitting existing buildings, seven years after the law has been enacted.

Solid waste problems are not the only issues competing for attention and funds.

Inefficient engineering and architectural design strategies on ESWM shifts the burden to building administrators. With limited operational resources, decisions are oftentimes difficult. On the other hand, electing the best design options may resolve present ESWM problems and it may save funds for other operational concerns.

The lack of awareness on ESWM of architects contributes to the complexity of ESWM implementation problem. Lack of proficiency in the criteria that must be considered and other factors that affect facility design deeply worsens the problem.

In an effort to address the problem, the Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines, the Ayala Foundation Inc. and the United Architects of the Philippines - Manila Corinthian Chapter published the Design Manual Solid Waste Facilities. Copies are available at the Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines.