Hazardous Waste Management Practices in the Philippines

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]azardous wastes have been around for many years, and even though the United States has good policies and practices on getting rid, or storing, them, other countries are struggling to do the same. Third world countries like the Philippines are starting to see the benefits of policies regarding the disposal of the hazardous wastes created by industry, especially the semiconductor manufacturing plants.

Hazardous waste is essentially any substance that does not have any real, safe use for commercial, industrial or agricultural industries. This could be the main waste or any waste that is created or discarded during the manufacturing process. Here we talk about the waste management practices in the Philippines.

Waste Classifications

Each country will have its own classification of wastes, but for the most part, they can be considered universal. Hazardous wastes might include, but not be limited to, acid wastes, reactive chemical waste, inks or pigment waste, organic waste, oil and any container that might be used in the processing, transportation and general use of chemical substances. These classifications will help you decide what the process is for managing the waste. Most of the time, companies and employees are given hazardous materials training in California or somewhere more local, and that can help with the classification process.

Full-Time Pollution Control Officer Is Needed

For the companies that generate waste that is hazardous, there are a few requirements that must be followed. Registering and paying the required fee for an ID and number is the first step. This allows waste to be tracked properly. A full-time pollution control officer should be designated on site and they will disclose the type and quantity of the waste that has been generated. An off-site facility must be identified as the target location for the treatment or storage of the waste. Finally, it is required that a company implement waste management policies until the waste has been certified as “treated”, “recycled” or “disposed of”.

Facing Challenges Head On

Being able to implement new hazardous waste management policies in a third world country has its own challenges. Raising awareness of the waste and what hazards they pose is the first one. Treatment facilities must be built in order to have a place to take the waste once it is determined to be hazardous to the people around it. To get companies to buy into the management process, there must be incentives for those that have best practices and follow certain set guidelines. Also, there must be a well-equipped medical services team to respond should there be a hazardous chemical waste emergency.

In summary, the identifying, cleaning up of, and storage or treatment of hazardous wastes is a process that requires a certain level of urgency. When human health is compromised, it is the duty of the people producing the waste to do the right thing to help protect the people that are handling the materials. Through proper training and policies, hazardous waste can be contained, transported and treated appropriately.