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8/12/2019 Montabiong Open Dumpsite for the Municipality of Lagawe-paper

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Montabiong Open Dumpsite for the Municipality of Lagawe, Ifugao

I. INTRODUCTIONLagawe 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, businessestablishments, recreational areas (plaza and gym) and medical centers (Ifugao GeneralHospital and Private Clinics). Disposal of solid waste is a major problem in Lagawe atpresent. Garbage/ waste is produced more rapid in commensurate to fast growing ofpopulation.

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 3kilometers 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 housesand business establishments. Fees are collected for maintenance.

Montabiong Dumpsite started operating since the second term of Honorable CeasarioCabbigat (2011).

II. ANALYSIS/ EVALUATIONThe 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 fromthe 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 areawhere garbage is unloaded.

There were garbage improperly disposed along the road, usually are cellophanes andplastics. 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 aremore 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 bedried ready for burning. And as observed there is no structure of support to at leastprevent 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 comescontamination of the run-off water cant be avoided, erosion of the garbage too. Opendumpsite create a clear and obvious threat to human health as well as a threat to ourenvironment from the hazardous contaminated air emissions emitted from the opengarbage dump site biodegradation. There are toxic gases released from the opendumpsite, of the most serious of which is methane. Methane gas is naturally producedduring the process of decay of organic matter. As methane gas is formed, it builds up


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pressure and then begins to move through the soil. Methane is a more potent greenhousegas than carbon dioxide.

Studies have shown significantly reduced height among children who live near dumpsites. It has also been shown that people living close to open dumpsites suffer from lungand 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 oftoxins into fresh water waterways, which end up in homes as drinking water or water foreveryday 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/ CONCLUSIONPollution 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 withtoxic waste. Pollutants deposited on land usually enter the body through the medium ofcontaminated crops, food products, water and animals. Land pollution can also damageterrestrial ecosystems, resulting in the deterioration of the conservation on and amenityvalue of the environment.

According to Marshal (1995), open dumpsites are a major problem to theenvironment, especially on the air that the people inhale. Dumpsites emit obnoxiousodours and smoke that cause illness to people living in, around, or closer to them.

According to Wrensh (1990) dumpsites maybe a source of airborne chemicalcontamination via off site migration of gases and the particles and chemicals adhering todust, 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 thecase of volatile organic chemicals into basements of nearby residents and in the case ofconsumption of home grown vegetables as well. Wrensh (1990) further stated that insome sites, volatile organic chemicals have been detected in odored air of homes nearbydumpsites.

Most solid wastes are disposed on the land in open dumps. Disposal of solid waste onthe land without careful planning and management can present a danger to theenvironment and the human health. The environment should be clean and less pollutedby all means. This means that waste should be managed at all costs to limit its effects tothe environment (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2006).

Organic waste materials such as food scraps, paper products and plants should berecycled. These materials are put through compost to decompose the organic matter andthen recycle as mulch or any agricultural compost.

The observation above has shown the hazard of improper disposal of garbage. If theconcerned citizen wont act on this immediately, they will be facing more complicated

consequences in the near future. The open dumpsite can be improved, rather thanleaving 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. Thearrow 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).


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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.

montabiong open dumpsite for the municipality of lagawe-paper

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