The document summarizes an analysis of the Montabiong Open Dumpsite in Lagawe, Ifugao, Philippines. It describes the dumpsite as being located on a mountain top near a river, with garbage improperly disposed along access roads and an unsegregated pile at the dumping ground. Photos show smoke rising from burning garbage, trees dying under trash, and leachate accumulating at the garbage base. The dumpsite poses health and environmental risks like toxic gas emissions, increased disease, and water contamination. It is recommended that the open dumpsite be improved or replaced with a sanitary landfill to better manage waste and limit pollution.
Original Description:
a reaction paper
Original Title
Montabiong Open Dumpsite for the Municipality of Lagawe-paper
The document summarizes an analysis of the Montabiong Open Dumpsite in Lagawe, Ifugao, Philippines. It describes the dumpsite as being located on a mountain top near a river, with garbage improperly disposed along access roads and an unsegregated pile at the dumping ground. Photos show smoke rising from burning garbage, trees dying under trash, and leachate accumulating at the garbage base. The dumpsite poses health and environmental risks like toxic gas emissions, increased disease, and water contamination. It is recommended that the open dumpsite be improved or replaced with a sanitary landfill to better manage waste and limit pollution.
The document summarizes an analysis of the Montabiong Open Dumpsite in Lagawe, Ifugao, Philippines. It describes the dumpsite as being located on a mountain top near a river, with garbage improperly disposed along access roads and an unsegregated pile at the dumping ground. Photos show smoke rising from burning garbage, trees dying under trash, and leachate accumulating at the garbage base. The dumpsite poses health and environmental risks like toxic gas emissions, increased disease, and water contamination. It is recommended that the open dumpsite be improved or replaced with a sanitary landfill to better manage waste and limit pollution.
Montabiong Open Dumpsite for the Municipality of Lagawe, Ifugao
I. INTRODUCTION Lagawe is the capital of Ifugao which has the total land area of 208.9 sq. km. hosting a population of 18, 077 (2010 census). Lagawe is occupied by residential houses, business establishments, recreational areas (plaza and gym) and medical centers (Ifugao General Hospital and Private Clinics). Disposal of solid waste is a major problem in Lagawe at present. Garbage/ waste is produced more rapid in commensurate to fast growing of population. The Local Government Unit of Lagawe has acquired a land area at Montabiong, Lagawe, Ifugao purposely for open dumpsite for garbage. Approximately more or less 3 kilometers away from Poblacion East where the MLGU is located. Monday-Wednesday- Friday is the scheduled day for the dump truck to collect garbage from residential houses and business establishments. Fees are collected for maintenance. Montabiong Dumpsite started operating since the second term of Honorable Ceasario Cabbigat (2011).
II. ANALYSIS/ EVALUATION The open dumpsite is located on top of a mountain in Montabiong. From the road down the neighboring mountain where the dumpsite is located, smoke can be seen from the burning garbage. And at the foot of the mountain is a river flowing down to Jucbong, Lagawe, Ifugao. It was noticed that there were residents nearby the road where the garbage dump truck pass through. Approximately more or less 200 hundred meters away from the area where garbage is unloaded. There were garbage improperly disposed along the road, usually are cellophanes and plastics. And on the unloading site was a huge pile of garbage. There were nine (9) scavengers seen on the day of the visit but according to a woman sometimes they are more than ten (10) who go for looking for any recyclables that can they can get. An area is flattened purposely for the garbage to be unloaded and where it will be dried ready for burning. And as observed there is no structure of support to at least prevent the erosion of the garbage down to the river just at the foot of the mountain. Trees that are covered by garbage where found dead. Biodegradable waste were rotting that cause stinky odor on the area. Broken glasses were all around. Leachate is accumulated on the base of the piled waste. If rainy season comes contamination of the run-off water cant be avoided, erosion of the garbage too. Open dumpsite create a clear and obvious threat to human health as well as a threat to our environment from the hazardous contaminated air emissions emitted from the open garbage dump site biodegradation. There are toxic gases released from the open dumpsite, of the most serious of which is methane. Methane gas is naturally produced during the process of decay of organic matter. As methane gas is formed, it builds up Page | 2
pressure and then begins to move through the soil. Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Studies have shown significantly reduced height among children who live near dump sites. It has also been shown that people living close to open dumpsites suffer from lung and heart diseases from the toxic gasses that are released from the garbage dumpsite degradation. The major issue caused with dumpsite leachates is the leakage of a large number of toxins into fresh water waterways, which end up in homes as drinking water or water for everyday use. The pollution is also severely harmful to animal and plant life. Groundwater contamination may result from leakage of very small amounts of leachate. III. RECOMMENDATIONS/ CONCLUSION
Pollution due to improper management of garbage is hazardous. Pollution may be through air or water, it can be direct to human through dusts and direct contact with toxic waste. Pollutants deposited on land usually enter the body through the medium of contaminated crops, food products, water and animals. Land pollution can also damage terrestrial ecosystems, resulting in the deterioration of the conservation on and amenity value of the environment. According to Marshal (1995), open dumpsites are a major problem to the environment, especially on the air that the people inhale. Dumpsites emit obnoxious odours and smoke that cause illness to people living in, around, or closer to them. According to Wrensh (1990) dumpsites maybe a source of airborne chemical contamination via off site migration of gases and the particles and chemicals adhering to dust, especially during the period of active operation of the site. Contamination of soil and groundwater may lead to direct contact or pollution of indoor air for example in the case of volatile organic chemicals into basements of nearby residents and in the case of consumption of home grown vegetables as well. Wrensh (1990) further stated that in some sites, volatile organic chemicals have been detected in odored air of homes nearby dumpsites. Most solid wastes are disposed on the land in open dumps. Disposal of solid waste on the land without careful planning and management can present a danger to the environment and the human health. The environment should be clean and less polluted by all means. This means that waste should be managed at all costs to limit its effects to the environment (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). Organic waste materials such as food scraps, paper products and plants should be recycled. These materials are put through compost to decompose the organic matter and then recycle as mulch or any agricultural compost. The observation above has shown the hazard of improper disposal of garbage. If the concerned citizen wont act on this immediately, they will be facing more complicated consequences in the near future. The open dumpsite can be improved, rather than leaving it open develop it as a sanitary landfill instead.
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PHOTOS TAKEN DURING THE VISIT IN MONTABIONG DUMPSITE
A photo taken from the road going up to the open dumpsite. The arrow shows where the unloading ground for garbage is. At the foot of the mountain is a river flowing down to Jucbong, Lagawe, Ifugao Improperly disposed garbage along the road which cover the plants. The trees where dying. The pile of garbage (unsegregated biodegradable and non-biodegradable). Page | 4
A liquid called leachate is accumulated at the base of the piled garbage. A Nipa Hut on a Corn Plantation beside the Montabiong Open Dumpsite.
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