Ways to deal with disaster wastes

We cheered at the first sign of sunshine after the monsoon rains. But suddenly, our spirits were dampened by the thought that more storms loom over the horizon.

But let’s bask in the sun while we can, clean up the mess, sort out the garbage, sort out our lives, mend our fences, mend our relationships.

While it’s dry, the rule of thumb, say the experts, “is to try as much as possible to recover everything that could still be reused, recycled, and composted to minimize the volume and toxicity of residual waste that would have to be hauled by the garbage collector.” 

So, let’s talk garbage, shall we? Our environmentalists, like the EcoWaste Coalition’s Secretariat, Romy Hidalgo of the Diocese of Caloocan Ecology Ministry, Sonia Mendoza and Baby Reyes of Mother Earth Foundation, Tessa Oliva of Miriam PEACE, Neneng Joson of Krusada para sa Kalikasan, Atty. Golly Ramos of the Philippine Earth Justice Center, and Dr. Helen Mendoza of Soljuspax, have put together some tips on how to manage flood or disaster wastes.  

Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, directs every member of society to “utilize environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage resource conservation and recovery.” That means we should not just litter, dump or burn our discards. 

Our experts declare, “The honest-to-goodness enforcement of this most important environmental legislation should pave the way for a living culture of waste prevention and reduction among members of society, which is absolutely essential as Mother Earth faces the growing impacts of environmental degradation, chemical pollution, and climate change.”    

So here are some tips on how to manage specific types of waste that we often see after the floodwaters have ebbed:  

• Turn biodegradable waste such as spoiled foodstuff,  kitchen discards, fallen leaves, broken twigs, yard trimmings, and other garden debris into compost.  See Easy lang ang Komposting, an illustrated comic booklet in Tagalog for basic instructions on composting:  http://www.emb.gov.ph/portal/nswmc/Resources.aspx.

• Salvage partially uprooted or tilted trees by anchoring them securely and protecting the exposed roots from drying with sako (burlap sack) or with mulch.  Get advice from the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation (http://www.msbfi.com) or contact a forester or tree conservationist.  For fallen branches, gather, dry, and store them for future use: for example, as plant support, firewood or even as ornament (e.g., twigs for Christmas trees and wreaths). 

• Dry the water hyacinth plants (often referred to as water lily) and then chop/shred and compost with ash, manure, and soil.  You can also fashion them into reusable bags and other functional items.  For more information, visit the Villar Foundation’s website at   http://www.villarfoundation.org/  or like the Taguig Water Lily Livelihood Program on Facebook.

• Collect the wood planks and scraps from the flood debris, then wash and dry them under the sun.  Keep them for future use as firewood, fencing materials, art pieces, handles for kitchen knives, and for other purposes.  Check if you or a friendly carpenter can turn them into furniture such as benches, chairs, and tables for needy public schools. 

• Dry rain-drenched or flood-damaged paper, corrugated box and other paper-based items under the sun for recycling.  Go to this site for advice on how to dry and restore dripping books: http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-and-sanitize-wet-books.

• Wash and dry discarded plastic bags and wrappers and polystyrene containers.  Find practical uses for them.  For instance, convert plastic bags into ropes, which could be used to tie up stuff or as a rescue tool during floods.   Contact the National Solid Waste Management Commission at nswmc2004@yahoo.com, or their local counterparts, for advice on what to do with them.

• Submerge flooded electronics in clean water and then drain. Get an air compressor or use an electric fan to remove the remaining dirt, water, and moisture out of the equipment.   Check the terms and conditions of the product warranty (also see if there is any provision for end-of-life product take-back).  Go to the nearest service center or consult a professional (e.g., electrician or electronic gadget or appliance repairperson) for assistance.  If the electrical appliance or device can no longer be safely used or repaired, go to the e-waste market at Ayala malls (every Friday in different malls) and SM malls (every first Friday and Saturday) where you can sell it for cash, exchange it for useful items or just drop it off.  Remember: Waste electrical and electronic equipment contain harmful chemicals of major health concern, including heavy metals such as lead and mercury and persistent organic pollutants such as brominated flame retardants.  Do not throw e-waste in regular trash.  Neither should you dump, burn or improperly disassemble or recycle e-waste.  

• Remove pet bottles, hard plastics, aluminum cans, tin cans, galvanized iron, and other metal sheets, electrical wires and other recyclables from the piles of flood waste, wash them with grey water from bathing or from the washing of clothes and dishes, dry, sell to junkshops or give to waste pickers or recyclers in your neighborhood.  

• Put what RA 9003 calls as “special waste” such as household hazardous waste (e.g., household batteries, lead-acid batteries, paints, spray canisters, consumer electronics, fluorescent lamps, oils, tires, etc.) in a duly labeled box or sack for separate collection and handling by the municipal or city government for proper treatment, storage or disposal.  Refer to these useful links from the EcoWaste Coalition’s website on how to safely manage spent household batteries and fluorescent lamps: http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2010/06/ecowaste-coalition-cautions-against.htm; http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2010/06/break-not-dump-not-burn-not-ecowaste.html.

• To clean flooded clothes, beddings and  curtains, pre-soak them in cold water to remove dirt and mud, then soak again in water with some vinegar, then wash in water with detergent (add some baking soda for enhanced cleaning power), rinse and then sun dry.

 • Bury animals that may have drowned in floodwaters in your garden or in any appropriate place at least two feet underground, far from surface water, areas of high groundwater or flood-prone places, and not in areas where they might attract rodents and dogs.

• Collect the residual waste — or waste materials that cannot be recovered, reused, repurposed, recycled or composted — and give to the municipal or city waste collectors for proper disposal. 

• Shovel or scrape your house floors, garage, and footpath of mud.  Put the mud in a sack, set aside to dry and keep for use as a “floodbag” to prevent or reduce flood damage in the future.

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