TOPIC: Proper waste management and disposal

Specific Speech Purpose: To persuade my audience to be aware of the problems of waste

Speaker: Environmental activist

Central Idea: The massive production and improper disposal of waste and in our country is a
huge problem, and it should be given attention.

INTRODUCTION (Attention Step):

According to a 2016 article from the Manila Bulletin, the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources said that a single resident in Metro Manila produces approximately 0.7
kilograms of waste a day, which is 130% higher than the global average of 0.3 kilograms per
person a day. If this continues to happen through the years, just imagine how our dumpsites
will look like in the future. They might get as high as mountains or buildings, and as wide as 10
or more football fields.

Transition: The wrong and careless disposal of waste in our country is an important issue that

must be given immediate attention and action through proper waste management and

disposal. 

BODY

I. The poor disposal of waste in our country has its causes.

A. The poor disposal of waste in our country is caused by our wrong mindsets.
B. The poor disposal of waste in our country is caused by our lack of discipline.

II. The poor disposal of waste in our country has its effects.
 A. The poor disposal of waste in our country has its negative effects on the health of
people.
B. The poor disposal of waste in our country has its negative effects on the environment.
a. Soil, water, and air pollution.
b. Animal and marine life hazard.

II. The poor disposal of waste in our country can be solved through proper waste management.

A. The poor disposal of waste in our country can be solved by segregating waste.
B. The poor disposal of waste in our country can be solved by composting waste.
C. The poor disposal of waste in our country can be solved by reusing waste.
D. The poor disposal of waste in our country can be solved by reducing waste.

CONCLUSION

Summary Step: In order to solve the growing problem of waste in our country, it all starts with
ourselves by changing our mindsets first and doing some action for it. I hope that this is a wake-
up call for all of us. We should start now, or else we might not even get a chance to do so.

Reference:

Ararilla, S.M. (2016, November 16). Waste not, want not. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from
http://lifestyle.mb.com.ph/2016/11/16/waste-not-want-not/
 Less Waste, Less Problems

According to a 2016 article from the Manila Bulletin, the Department of Environment

and Natural Resources said that a single resident in Metro Manila produces approximately 0.7

kilograms of waste a day, which is 130% higher than the global average of 0.3 kilograms per

person a day. If this continues to happen through the years, just imagine how our dumpsites

will look like in the future. They might get as high as mountains or buildings, and as wide as 10

or more football fields.

The wrong and careless disposal of waste in our country is an important issue that must

be given immediate attention and action through proper waste management and disposal. 

First, let us see how massive the problem of waste production and disposal in our

country is. Imagine yourself walking down the streets of Angeles City or any other place in the

Philippines. Probably, one of the most usual thing that you would see in these streets are pieces

of trash lying down almost everywhere, right? Garbage thrown anywhere is a common sight in

some places of our country, which is why sometimes we forget that it is a huge issue because

we are already used at seeing it regularly.

What do you think caused this problem to happen? The lack of information and

awareness of Filipinos? I don’t think so. Most of us are aware how we should dispose our trash

properly. It is taught in school, in the community or barangay, and even at homes. And with the

existence of social media and internet today, information about this can be easily shared and

accessed.
 Then what is the real reason why this happens? I believe that it all starts with our wrong

mindsets. Take for example if one person thinks that their action won’t have a huge effect and

will just continue to throw out a small piece of trash anywhere thinking it’s not a big deal, it’s

just one piece of trash. But what will happen if this one person becomes two, five, ten, twenty,

hundred, or a thousand people? It will become a massive problem just like what we are

experiencing right now.

Another cause of the improper waste disposal in our country is lack of discipline from

the government, people, and producers.

The Philippines has an act called Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or

Republic Act 9003. This act declares the policy of the state in adopting a systematic,

comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that ensures the protection of

public health and the environment and the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage,

treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of best

environmental practices. It also directed the closure of open dump sites and created the

National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) to oversee the law’s implementation.

But did this act solve the waste problem in the Philippines? It did not. Almost 19 years

after the law was passed, NSWMC still received more than 900 reports of current open dump

sites across the country. This is because both the government and the citizens are not

disciplined enough to follow the law.

Aside from the government and residents, producers of goods are also to be blamed

with their lack of discipline in continuously producing goods that are big contributors of the
massive waste production, common examples are single-use products. These single-use

products may be cheaper than other products, but they generate more waste. Products that

are single-use are mostly made of plastic like sachets, plastic cups and utensils, and Styrofoam.

Which take up to 500 years or more to decompose.

With production of waste like these, as a result, our dumpsites will become congested

just like what I mentioned earlier. It has effects in the health of people and also in the

environment. If solid wastes are not managed well, they may create unsanitary conditions.

Stray dogs and birds may sometimes invade garbage heaps and may spread it over the

neighborhood causing unhygienic and unhealthy surroundings. This may lead to epidemic

outbreaks. Many diseases like cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, plague, jaundice, or gastro-

intestinal diseases may spread and cause loss of human lives. With the poor sanitary and health

maintenance in some places in our country, these diseases are more likely to spread and those

who have weak immune systems specially children are prone in getting them.

Another impact that can happen if wastes are not treated properly is decomposition and

putrefaction or decaying of an organic matter, causing land and water pollution when the waste

products leak down into the underground water resources. The organic solid waste during

decomposition may generate obnoxious odors. On the occasions paper and plastic are burned

at the landfill, causing landfill gas, the chemicals released which accumulate and contribute to

the ozone layer and also hurt the surrounding human population. Methane gas adds to it as

well. Besides, with chemicals such as dioxin out there, the air has been proven to have harmful
effects on us. All of it, and especially when improper waste management is concerned, play a

significant role in causing global warming. 

A lot of waste, most of which were disposed improperly, end up in oceans. Aside from

water contamination, marine animals also suffer from this wrong disposal of waste. Almost 80%

of these wastes that end up in oceans are plastic and many sea creatures are affected by it.

How do we solve this growing problem of improper waste disposal? To deal with this,

discipline is greatly needed. We don’t lack awareness, we just only lack action. We should start

by practicing proper waste management. One way is to segregate waste into different groups

like biodegradable waste, non-biodegradable waste, recyclables, and more. Grouping them this

way allows for proper processing or storage. When wastes are segregated properly, you can

decide on what to do on the wastes depending on where they are segregated.

Composting waste is another way of managing waste properly. You can compost lots of

items: food waste, animal waste, yard waste, and much more. Basically, anything that is organic

or biodegradable can be composted and will break down into rich compost that can be used for

a variety of things. For example, people use their compost for fertilizer for their lawns and

plants.

Reusing waste is another option for managing of waste. There are many different items

that are reusable: jars, cans, containers, plastic soda bottles, takeout plastic containers and

utensils, newspapers, magazines, paper bags, clothes, and more. A lot of people aren't aware of

all the different things that they can reuse. By reusing items like these, waste production will

decrease and money can also be saved.

waste you produce. For example, instead of purchasing plastic water bottles, you can buy a

reusable water bottle that can be used anytime. Another example is using your own shopping

bags instead of plastic bags when buying groceries or when shopping. Aside from reducing the

waste you create, you can also save money in the long term by using alternative products like

these.

There are many ways to solve the growing problem of waste in our country, it all starts

with ourselves by changing our mindsets first and doing some action. I hope that this is a wake-

up call for all of us. We should start now, or else we might not even get a chance to do so.