“END-OF-THE-PIPE” MATERIAL RECOVERY TO REDUCE WASTE DISPOSAL AND TO MOTIVATE THE INFORMAL SECTOR TO PARTICIPATE IN SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CALAJUNAN DUMPSITE IN ILOILO CITY, PANAY, PHILIPPINES

Waste management problems in developed countries differ from those in

developing countries. Whereas the former have access to the needed financial and technical

resources as well as expertise and a well developed market, the latter countries struggle to

provide basic systems to manage waste such as a waste collection system. This becomes even

more obvious in urban and built-up areas where solid waste problems go hand-in-hand with

other environmental threats such as air pollution, waste water, sanitation and drainage problems.

In Iloilo City, a fast growing urban center, located at the southeastern side of Panay Island,

Philippines, solid waste management becomes increasingly more difficult. Presently, only 160

tons out of the estimated 310 tons daily waste generation are collected by a private contractor.

Due to the stressed traffic situation, the waste collection can only be conducted during night

time, whereas the most of recoverable materials are already segregated prior to disposal before or

during waste collection. Nevertheless, there are still about 300 waste pickers who make their

living by collecting sellable materials at the dumpsite. Although they are somehow accepted,

their presence complicates the efforts for site improvement and requires special measures in the

preparation of new waste management projects.