Mind your Wastes PLEASE

Nice scenery, right? However, that's a LOT of garbage!!!

June is celebrated as Environment month. As what the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau always says, "wala 'nun kung wala nito", the interconnection between species must be protected. We should give importance to Mother Earth. This may sound corny and idealistic. However, with what is happening to Earth right now, all of us should change perspective. Isabay mo na sa #changeiscoming. I believe that no one will like the idea of not having ice cream in the future because of the effect of global warming. It would be very costly to manufacture ice cream if the manner will always be business as usual. Sad 'yun kapag ganun. :(

Why am I telling about this? Humans are the real culprits why there are news about innocent whales, turtles, and all other marine life dying. Turtles cannot breathe because of some stuck metal in their nose. Fishes dying because they thought chips from improperly disposed cellular phones were food. Why again? It is because of the very, very, very IMPROPER waste management of self centered humans. It is as if to some, the world is a huge basket for garbage that anyone could throw anywhere. Forget about the hired street sweepers. Please don't claim that it is their job. Shame on someone who has that kind of mentality. The reason why the demand on sweeping job gets higher is because of people with  narrow minds.

Mitigating the harmful effects of human daily activities is a collaborative effort. One shouldn't claim that a waste should be picked up only by the disposer. We should blame the sin and not the sinner. Awareness is the key to this. So, as I do my part, please do yours.

Last June 10, 2016, I was fortunate  to be part of the #EcoTour2016 organized by the admin of an industrial park where our company is a locator. We went to a TSD facility and sanitary landfill. A TSD facility treats, stores, or disposes wastes from generators. They physically or chemically treat the hazardous and non hazardous wastes. A sanitary landfill is not a dumpsite. It is managed properly where engineering is applied. It is where wastes are isolated from the community. Normally, when the maximum capacity of sanitary landfill is reached, it will then be turned as golf course or parks. 

The reason why I am posting this is to spread the information that there is life after your disposal. We should think in a cradle to grave manner. We should think about what is there or what it is like from the source to final destination of the material. Mother Earth doesn't care about your money. Yes, money gives you the ability to buy. However, can you bring your wealth when you die? Life on Earth must be with a purpose. Use your power to influence others for the good. You, as an individual, should follow the inverted triangle on waste management: REDUCE first, if cannot be, REUSE, then RECYCLE, then RECOVER, then DISPOSE if no process or step can be done further.

The TSD facility we visited is AWS located at Guiguinto, Bulacan. I am very impressed with their vision, mission, and management. As a young chemical engineer, I was inspired by how they assess and treat incoming different types of wastes. I saw the unit operations and unit processes being applied to proper waste management. A round of applause for them!

As you can see, plants and trees can  thrive.  SAFE workplace!

Credits to AWS

I like their view on safety. Making safety a way of life. For me, safety is not a common sense alone.

After having lunch, we went to Metro Clark Waste Mgt. Corp. located at Capas, Tarlac. It was a 2 hr drive from AWS since we got lost. Normally, travel time is 1 hour.

As said, it is where I saw how engineering can be applied to the waste management problem of Philippines. They really ensured that the leachate, or katas ng basura, will be collected properly. The cells are multi layered. Installation of liners assured the community that no leachate will join the aquifer. I personally appreciate how good their planning and operations are. Also, as early as now, they think about the future. Good model for a young employee like me. Thumbs up!

collection bins to lessen manual handling and collection of wastes from generators

Baby landfill

perforated HDPE pipes so that all leachate will be collected and directed to their leachate pan

Tapon pa more? Isip pa more muna!

happy to know that there are no scavengers there

engineered sanitary landfill... AMAAAZZIIIING!

So, folks, mind what you consume. Mind your wastes. The Earth is only borrowed. It is not inherited.

Thank you for reaching this far. It is a bit long post. I hope that environment awareness and application will circulate. We may start within our homes. I think we should really live with a purpose. :D

Note: No sponsored posts unless stated. This is a message to those tapon dito, tapon doon. Mahiya po kayo, ate at kuya!

Til my next post,