Assessing the Awareness and Practices of the Community in Brgy. Cawilan, Tagana-an, Surigao Del Norte towards Solid Waste Management

Abstract

The problem of solid waste management increases as years pass by. In the Philippines, small communities like Brgy. Cawilan, in the Municipality of Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte have long-term solid waste management problems despite the countless seminars conducted, implemented policies on solid waste management, and key programs to reduce the volume of waste in the community with no landfills and such. Thus, this poses a greater threat to the community’s health and waste disposal. Hence, this study aimed to assess the awareness and practices of the community in Brgy. Cawilan, Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte towards solid waste management. Moreover, this study utilized descriptive-correlation research design employing survey method as a tool in data gathering. The adopted survey questionnaire was floated to the 108 randomly selected residents of Brgy. Cawilan to determine their level of awareness and practices on solid waste management. Results revealed that the level of awareness on solid waste management of Brgy. Cawilan was High, which means that the community are Aware of the solid waste management programs implemented in the barangay. The segregation and reduce practices were Practiced, the reuse practices were Highly Practiced, and the recycle and disposal practices were Less Practiced and lastly the awareness on solid waste management of the community does not affect their practices in terms of disposal but their practices in terms of segregation, reduce, reuse, and recycle influence their awareness on solid waste management. Hence, it is recommended the barangay should reconduct a seminar to reiterate the consequences of violating solid waste management ordinances and to refresh the policies for effective implementation and should have stricter and efficient ways of recycling waste materials to lessen the volume of waste that can be repurposed and schedule collection of waste, provide a centralized disposal areas, and establish a structured landfill disposal to be able to avoid improper waste disposal practices.