UNDERSTANDING AND IMPROVING WASTE DISPOSAL IS A

KEY TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

A Research Paper Presented to the

Faculty of the Junior High School Department

Mintal Comprehensive High School

Mintal, Tugbok, Davao City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

English Research

GRADE 10 – LUNA

Caligbus, Bridgett Dianne T.

Galon, Kristina Cassandra

Ilustre, Rhianne Santina

Nuttal, Yumi Clizette

Lariosa, Jenny Anne

INTRODUCTION
 Effective management of waste disposal in schools plays a crucial role in promoting

sustainability development. A frequent issue in schools, especially public schools, is garbage,

which is thrown everywhere without proper segregation. Upgrading school facilities is essential

to implementing and reinforcing waste management practices and fostering a healthy learning

environment. Improved school facilities create an enriched learning space where students

develop skills, knowledge, culture, and identity (Marques & Xavier, 2020).

School studies have highlighted the diverse waste management practices adopted by

schools across different regions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,

2020), developed nations, such as the United States and European countries, have implemented

structured waste disposal programs, including recycling, composting, and waste segregation.

Meanwhile, developing countries often face challenges due to limited infrastructure and

resources, leading to inefficient waste disposal systems (Hoornweg & Bhada - Tata, 2012).

Schools in these regions rely on community-driven initiatives and government support to manage

waste effectively.

In the current era of rapid urbanization, Solid Waste Management (SWM) has appeared

as one of the top environmental concerns in the Philippines. In the Philippines, 35,580 tons of

garbage are estimated to be collected daily, or about 14.66 million tons a year in 2014

(Coracero,Gallego,Frago, & Gonzales, 2021). Furthermore, the objective of the study is to

evaluate the awareness and practices of some junior high school students in Davao City and

Cotabato City.
 Thus, this study aims to educate students on the significance of proper waste disposal and

encourage them to actively participate in maintaining cleanliness within their surroundings. If

the youth today, especially students, gain knowledge about the improper disposal of waste and

understand its effects, we may find a solution to the growing waste problem in the community l.

Students may be able to address ongoing challenges that are related to waste, and through proper

education and implementation of proper disposal practices, we can achieve a healthier and more

sustainable future.
 REFERENCES

2020 National Emissions Inventory (NEI) Data | US EPA. (2025, January 14). US EPA.

https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-inventories/2020-national-emissions-inventory-nei-

data

Bhada-Tata, P. A. (2012). What a waste? : a global review of solid waste management.

World Bank.

https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/

302341468126264791/what-a-waste-a-global-review-of-solid-waste-management

Coracero, Ericson & Gallego, Rb & Frago, Kristine & Gonzales, Ruel. (2021). A

………Long-Standing Problem: A Review on Solid Waste Management in the ………

Philippines. Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI). 2. ………213-220.

10.47540/ijsei.v2i3.144.

Saheb, D., Rodrigues, D. G., & Guebert, M. C. C. (2017). The Environmental Education

in Teachers’ Initial Training of and The Seven Complex Lessons of Morin: Contributions

and Challenges. Creative Education, 08(03), 447–460.

https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2017.83034
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research is to understand and improve waste disposal to minimize

environmental impact, maintain our resources, and protect human health. Strategic waste

management is essential for building a strong community and sustainable future for everyone.

This research aims to provide insights that can inform policy decisions that are aimed at

promoting sustainable waste management practices, protecting public health, and protecting our

environment. A sustainable waste management is very essential for reducing environmental

damage.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. How does proper waste disposal impact our environmental and human health?

2. How can school communities promote sustainability and reduce their environmental

footprint?

3. Can students be the key to environmental sustainability?

The qualitative research is anchored on three theories which provide support to the concept of

understanding proper waste disposal. Among these theories the Theory of Planned Behavior

(Ajzen, 1991) explains how individuals’ attitudes, social influences, and perceived control over

their actions shape their waste disposal behavior. The study can determine the motivators and

obstacles that affect people's desire to adopt appropriate waste disposal procedures by examining

these variables. Additionally, in order to preserve ecological balance and stop environmental

degradation, Environmental Sustainability Theory place a strong emphasis on the prudent use of

resources. This theory emphasizes how important it is to dispose of garbage properly in order to

reduce pollution, preserve natural resources, and create a healthier environment. By supporting

an all encompassing waste management strategy that incorporates waste reduction, reuse,

recycling, and responsible disposal, the integrated sustainable waste management (ISWM)

Framework reinforces to this viewpoint even more. This paradigm emphasize the necessity of an

effective and a long-lasting system that incorporates people, institutions and communities.

Furthermore, according to Social Practice theory ( Shove et al., 2012 ), knowledge,

infrastructure, and social norms all influence how trash is disposed of. Designing methods to

promote sustainable waste disposal practices through community engagement, regulatory

reforms, and education can be made easier with an understanding of these in impacts. This study

intends to give solutions that support long-term environmental sustainability and a deeper

knowledge of trash disposal methods by incorporating various theoretical viewpoints.

Understanding and improving waste disposal is essential for achieving a sustainable

environment. This study explores and examine the maintenance of waste disposal, especially in

school communities where waste is a common problem. It aims to benefits junior high school

students, teachers, and all school facilities. Proper waste management helps reduce pollution,

conserve natural resources and lessen the harmful waste on ecosystem and human health. By

examining current waste disposal practices, this study provides insights into effective methods of

waste recycling and responsible disposal.

Furthermore, the findings of this research can guide policy makers, local governments, and

communities in implementing sustainable waste management systems. It also gives awareness

among individuals and businesses about their role in reducing environmental impact. Eventually,

this study contributes to the long-term goal of a cleaner and healthier planet for future

generations.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Waste Disposal

Refers to the process of collecting, transporting, processing, recycling, or disposing of waste

materials generated by human activities, particularly in educational institutions like schools.

Waste Segregation

The practice of separating waste into different categories (e.g., biodegradable, non-

biodegradable, recyclable) at the source of generation to facilitate proper disposal or recycling

processes. This practice helps reduce landfill waste and improve recycling efforts.

Solid Waste Management (SWM)

The collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of solid waste materials, including waste

segregation, recycling, composting, and landfill management. It aims to minimize environmental

impact and promote sustainability, especially in urbanized areas like the Philippines.|

Recycling

The process of converting waste materials, such as paper, glass, plastic, and metal, into new

products or raw materials. Recycling reduces the need for virgin materials, helps conserve

resources, and decreases the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

The delimitation of this study is, it focuses on evaluating the awareness and practices of junior

high school students regarding waste disposal in selected schools in Davao city and Cotabato

city. It specially testing or examines their knowledge, skills, attitude, and behaviors towards trash

segregation, recycling, and proper disposal methods. Moreover, this research is limited to the

perspectives of students and does not evaluate the roles of teachers, administrators, or

government agencies in waste management. Furthermore, the study may encounter several

limitations.

Firstly, data collection is restricted to specific schools in two cities, which may limit the

generalization of the findings to other regions in the Philippines. Second, students self reported

responses may not always truly reflect their actual trash disposal practices due to social appeal

bias. Third, the study is time constrained, making it challenging to observe long term changes in

students behavior or the effectiveness of trash management initiatives. And lastly, outermost

factors such as school policies, available facilities, and government regulations may influence

students trash management practices.