Orpilla, Gapuz, Tabafunda, Paglinawan, Alvaro & Coloma.

/ Determining the Segregation Culprit

DETERMINING THE SEGREGATION CULPRIT

Lester E. Orpilla1, Cristopher Jay R. Gapuz2, Judy Ann L. Tabafunda3,
Ma. Leonora A. Paglinawan4, Genevieve A. Alvaro5 & Jenifer G. Coloma6

College of Education
Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus

Abstract Waste, garbage and rubbish have been the major issues not only in urban areas but in all
places nationwide. The study aimed to identify the culprits of waste segregation, understand the
perception of the culprits as to why they do not sort wastes properly and take photos of the actual
incidences of non-waste segregation. The study was conducted at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State
University- North La Union Campus. A total of 15 college and high school students were caught throwing
their waste and were interviewed. It was found out that most of the students did not segregate their waste
properly and there is a discrepancy between their practice and answers during the interview. This study
would help to create and develop awareness among students and other individuals on proper waste
segregation.

Index Terms culprit, waste segregation,

College of Education, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus
1

Orpilla, / Ecological Sampling I: The Transect Line Method

1. INTRODUCTION
Basura, garbage, rubbish, gomi, ordures,
afval, spazzatura whatever people call it,
solid waste is a problem that must be properly
managed. While it is generally understood that
proper waste management helps protect
human health and the environment and
preserve natural resources, many do not
realize that solid waste also impacts climate
change.
The manufacture, distribution, and use
of productsas well as the disposal of the
resulting wasteall result in emissions of
atmospheric gases called greenhouse gases
that affect the Earths climate. When organic
waste decomposes in landfills and uncontrolled
dumps, it produces methane, one of the major
greenhouse gases contributing to climate
change. Waste generation increases with
population expansion and industrialization.
Countries in Asia, Latin America, and
Africa account for nearly 40 percent of annual
methane emissions from landfills, which is
equal to 37 million metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) or the amount of
air emissions from more than 102 million
automobiles. You can reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, however, through proper solid waste
management
There have been national policies and
laws
and
local
ordinances
that
were
promulgated to ensure that Filipino citizens
would accept the responsibility of proper waste
segregation. However, sorting of waste is still a
major problem nationwide, and the Don
Mariano Marcos Memorial State UniversityNorth La Union Campus is not an exception.
The DMMMSU-NLUC was dubbed as the
Most Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Campus in
the Region 1 but it is very ironic that wastes in
our garbage bins are not properly segregated.
Many students are not practicing the proper
waste segregation in the campus.
Therefore, this study aimed to identify
the culprits of waste segregation, understand
the perception of the culprits as to why they do
not sort wastes properly and take photos of the
actual incidences of non-waste segregation.

2. METHODOLOGY

We looked for areas where there are two

trash bins labeled as biodegradable and nonbiodegradable. There were three areas where
we stand by, two pair of garbage bins in the
covered walk in front of the administration
buildings and one in the Secondary Laboratory
School. One of the member checked whether
the garbage was disposed/ segregated
properly.
Two sets of questionnaires were used for
the interview. A total of 15 college and high
school students were interviewed. The activity
was documented through capturing pictures
and videos using a smart phone.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Six (6) students were caught on act
segregated their waste and 9 students did not
segregate their waste. The graph below shows
the distribution of the respondents who
segregated and not segregated their waste

Questionnaire Number 1
(for those who segregate their waste)
1. Do you often segregate your garbage
properly? Why?
Four of the students who were caught on
act segregating their waste said that they often
segregate their garbage properly. The table
below shows their reasons.
Frequen
Reason
cy
1
It is our practice in our house.
3
To save mother earth.
Two of them said that they did not often
segregate their garbage properly. The table
below shows their reasons.
Frequen
Reason
cy
Because the garbage collector
1
here in the campus mixed the
waste they collected in our
garbage bins.

College of Education, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus
2

Orpilla, / Ecological Sampling I: The Transect Line Method

Because it is not a practice in

our house but I just do it here in
school since we are dubbed as
eco-friendly school in the
region

2. What do you think is the effect of nonsegregation of waste?

Frequen
Reason
cy
1
It would result to a messy
surroundings.
2
There would be air and land
pollutions.
2
It can cause floods when
trapped in the waterways.
1
More garbage is produced.
3. In your own opinion, how can the problem on
waste segregation be resolved in the country?
Frequen
Reason
cy
2
Local
government
should
strictly implement the No
Plastic Bag Policy.
1
Composting the biodegradable
waste for organic fertilizer
1
Implement
the
No
Segregation,
No
Collection
Policy
Environmental
1
Education/Science should be
part of subjects in the basic
education.
Recycling
should
be
1
strengthened.
Questionnaire Number 2
(for those who did not segregate their waste)
1. Do you often not segregate your waste?
Why?
Of the nine students who did not
segregate their waste, 6 of them said that they
often not segregate their waste.
Frequenc
Reason
y
4
Its not part of my habit.
2
Its not a practice at home.
Three of the nine students said that they
often segregate their waste.

The table below shows their reasons.

Frequenc
Reason
y
1
Its part of our activities in our
college.
Its a very embarrassing
2
moment when someone caught
you throwing your garbage in a
wrong trash bin in our college.
2. What do you think is the importance of
waste segregation?
Frequenc
Reason
y
2
Segregation of waste would
help to lessen the garbage
produced.
4
It would help to avoid pollution
(air, water and land).
3
To avoid messy surroundings.
3. Do you plan to segregate your waste in the
future?
All of the respondents said that they are
planning to segregate their waste in the future.
Frequenc
y
3
1
4
1

Reason
To mitigate the big problem in
the waste being produced.
To avoid pollution (air, land and
water).
To have a clean and safe
environment.
For the sake of our environment
and the next generation to
come

4. CONCLUSIONS

Based from the above results, the

following conclusions were derived:
1. Most of the students did not segregated
their waste properly.
2. There is a discrepancy between the
practice and the answer of some
students during the interview.
3. All of the students who did not segregate
their waste agreed that they are
planning to segregate their waste in the
future.
4. Many of the students considered proper
waste segregation not part of their habit
and not part of their practice at home.

College of Education, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus
3

Orpilla, / Ecological Sampling I: The Transect Line Method

RECOMMENDATION
In light of the above stated conclusions,
the
researchers
offer
the
following
recommendations:
1. Initiate lectures symposium and seminars on
proper waste segregation to increase the
awareness of students.
2. Conduct monitoring or onsite inspection in
all garbage bins in the campus.
3. Garbage bins should be properly labeled.
4. Garbage collectors should strictly follow the
proper collection of garbage.
5. Local government should strictly implement
the No Segregation, No Collection Policy of
garbage.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to thank the following people
for helping in the completion of the study: (1)
Mr. Jomar L. Aban, Course Professor in Educ
113/Environmental Education (2) Dr. Rosita P.
Abubo, Dean of the College of Education,
DMMMSU-NLUC. (3) Dr. Criselda G. Sario, SEd
Chairman, College of Education, DMMMSUNLUC, (4) Dr. Anny Ross A. Bayan, adviser of
the authors (5) their parents for the financial
and moral assistance.

REFERENCES
Waste Management. Retrieved on July 2, 2015
from
http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/dsd_aofw_ni/ni_pdfs/Natio
nalReports/korea/WasteManagement.pdf
Solid Waste Management: A Local Challenge
With Global Impacts. Retrieved on July 2, 2015
from
http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/ghg/f
02026.pdf

College of Education, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus
4

Orpilla, / Ecological Sampling I: The Transect Line Method

DOCUMENTATIONS

College of Education, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus
5